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7  JUNE  1919 


A  REPORT  TO  ABDUL  BAHA 

OF    THE 

BAHAl   ACTIVITIES   IN   THE  STATES   OF 

NORTH   CAROLINA,   SOUTH    CAROLINA,   GEORGIA 

AND   FLORIDA,   U.SA. 


MARCH-APRIL,    1919 


HUMBLY    SUBMITTED    BY 

^  TOLLS  MASON  REM[Y. 

II 

AND 

A   LETTER   TO    THE    MEMBERS   OF   THE 

BAHAl    BOARD   OF    TEACHING    IN    AMERICA 


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PREFACE 


Shortly, after  Mr.   Bassett  and  I  set  forth  upon  our 
tour  South,   of  which  this  report  treats^   a  cablegram  was  re- 
ceived from  Abdul-Baha  containing  several   instructions  regard- 
ing our  travels,    amoiig    v/hich  was  to  "write  letters". 

From  various  cities  and  towns,   letters  were  written, 
and  forwarded  to  the  Koly  Land,    telling  of  meetings  held  and 
of  the  generail  progress  of  the  Bahai  work  in  the  states  visitad, 
but  on  account  of   the  rush  of  travel  and  meeting  many  people, 
these  accounts  ifere  necessarily  brief  and  fragmentary.     Now 
that  time  and  other  conditions  permit,    this  more  detailed 
account  of  our  tour  is  being  prepared  to  send  to  The  Holy 
Presence  of  The  Center  of   the  Covenant  of  El  Baha. 


A 

Washington,   D.   C. 
7  June  1919. 


^C^^-W.  O^^M^i/ 


INTRODUCTORY 

During  the  time  that  the  United  States  was  engaged  in  the  European  war, 
it  was  very  difficiilt  to  teach  the  Cause  of  GOD  to  the  people  in  general.  The 
war  activities  occupied  the  time,  attention  and  energy  of  the  vast  majority  of 
men  and  women,  and  for  the  most  part  the  leaders  of  religion  confined  their  at- 
tention largely  toward  preaching  patriotic  sermons  calculated  to  stir  up  and 
maintain  the  war  valor  of  the  country.  Thus  the  carrying  on  of  any  teaching  or 
propaganda  calculated  to  inc^llcate  tangible  love  and  friendship  betv/een  warring 
nations  was  frowned  upon  and  considered  as  a  treasonable  offense  —  therefore 
the  friends  had  to  conduct  themselves  with  carefulness  and  wisdom,  so,  during 
the  months  while  this  intense  war  spirit  reigned,  the  believers  were  in  certain 
ways  hindered  from  giving  forth  the  teachings-   In  fact  in  those  days,  the 
pillars  of  civilization  were  so  shaken  by  the  great  wave  of  v/ar  hatred  that  it 
was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  the  Bahais  retained  their  composite,  for 
when  the  whole  world  is  ablaze  with  animosity  and  enmity,  it  is  like  a  plaigue 
from  T/hich  protection  is  difficult"  and  even  the  friends  of  GOD  at  times  had  to 
make  efforts  lest,  like  others,  they  themselves  might  be  swept  into  the  psychol- 
ogy of  v;ar.  However,  praise  be  to  GOD,  that  hatred,  prejudice  and  enmity  did  not 
find  root  in  the  hearts  of  the  Bahai  friends. 

Though  distressed  in  body  and  soul,  because  of  the  terrible  conditions 
of  the  world,  it  being  so  difficult  to  proclaim  the  Cause  to  the  people  of  the 
v?orld  during  those  days,  the  friends  v/ere  actively  engaged  in  giving  moral  support 
to  one  another,  and  in  strengthening  the  circle  of  the  people  of  The  Covenant. 

As  it  was,  various  of  the  friends  in  Anerica  had  trouble  because  of 
their  activities  in  the  Bahai  work,  which  was  not  appreciated  by  the  governments. 
In  Canada,  Mother  Beecher  was  arrested  and  made  to  leave  the  city  where  she  was 
teaching;  in  New  York  Jiiliet  Thompson  was  "investigated"  and  had  it  not  been  for 
the  timely  intervention  of  Mr.  ?m.  H.  Randall  of  Boston,  who  interviewed  certain 
officials  and  explained  to  them  the  reality  of  the  affair,  she  might  have  gotten 
into  very  serious  trouble;  while  in  California  the  home  of  Mr.  Beckett  v/as  searched 
for  dociMentary  evidence  that  the  Baheii  Cause  was  against  the  then  existing  policy 
of  this  government.  This  last  caused  the  Bahais  in  southern  California  to  cease 
for  a  time,  their  meetings.  At  another  time,  those  v/ho  had  turned  against  the 
Cause  of  GOD,  published  an  article  in  a  California  newspapger  stating  that  Abdul- 
Baha  and  His  followers  7/ere  against  the  United  States  Government,  and  about  this 
same  time  it  was  reported  that  these  same  enemies  had  tried  to  spread  the  rumor 
that  the  Mashrak-El-Azkar  fund  was  in  reality  not  for  the  building  of  a  temple,  but 
was  to  be  devoted  to  the  purpose  of  v.-orking  against  the  Government.  These  and 
other  statements  were  circulated,  but  were  found  by  the  Government  to  be  false,  sx» 
the  Bahais  have  been  spared  any  great  troubles  and  difficulties.  Although  the 
friends  have  been  obliged  to  be  most  careful  and  circumspect  in  their  words  and 
conduct,  yet  through  all  they  have  been  divinely  blessed  and  protected.  For  exam- 
ple, -  Green-Acre  had  always  stood  for  Peace,  and  from  its  flag  pole  waved  the 
ensign  of  Peace,  which  emblem  also  appeared  upon  the  stationery  used  by  the  friends 
there.  However,  during  the  war,  this  flag  had  to  be  lovrered,  and  general  Peace 


'2- 

propaganda  eliminated  from  the  programs.  The  Green-Acre  property  being  quite  sur- 
rounded by  war  institutions  V7hich  absorbed  the  public  mind,  but  few  people  attend- 
ed the  conferences,  so  there  •was  but  very  little  work  dore  there  last  season  in 
the  way  of  general  public  teaching,  Notvv'ithstanding  this,  v/e  all  felt  that  a  very 
great  and  a  glorious  spiritual  work  was  accomplished  within  the  circle  of  the 
friends  there. 

T\7ice  daily,  morning  and  afternoon,  the  friends  assembled  in  the  home  of 
the  Misses  Thompson  of  New  Haven,  in  which  house  the  Kinney  family  and  others 
dwelt,  and  there  tablets  and  prayers  were  read  and  the  teachings  of  the  Bahai 
peace  given.   In  this  manner  a  very  virile  and  a  strong  5>iritual  center  was  formed, 
and  great  confirmations  resulted  from  those  gatherings,  so  much  so  that  people  wer- 
so  attracted  that  they  could  not  easily  rene-in  away  from  the  meetings.   Friends 
who  came  to  Green-Acre  intending  to  remain  but  for  a  few  days,  stayed  on  for  v/eeks,. 
while  others  v7ho  were  obliged  to  return  to  their  homes,  arranged  their  affairs  and 
came  back  again  to  Green-Acre.  This  spiritual  unity  was  acknov/ledged  by  all  to  be 
a  Divine  Boxmty  of  The  Covenant,  for  in  those  gatherings  they  found  the  Bahai 
Peace  and  strength,  <7hile  the  outside  world  was  in  the  throes  of  conflict  and 
disaster. 

Nov/  the  visible  collapse  of  the  old  ideals  of  the  former  civilization 
is  causing  many  people  to  consider  the  spiritual  reality  behind  these  phenomena 
now  transpiring  upon  every  hand,  and  is  causing  them  to  inquire  as  to  the  reason 
of  this  great  change,  the  explanation  of  which  lies  in  the  Revelation  of  EL  ABHA. 

With  the  signing  of  the  armistice  in  Europe,  the  intense  r/ar  enthusiasm 
of  the  people  throughout  the  country  diminished  greatly  and  then  the  public  seemed 
more  approachable  upon  matters  of  religion,  so  the  Bahais  found  themselves  able, 
as  never  before,  to  give  the  ABHA  Glad  Tidings  to  the  people. 

As  conditions  throughout  the  country  became  aore  feasible  for  the  gen- 
eral teaching  and  proclamation  of  the  Glad  Tidings,  the  friends  began  to  consider 
more  and  more  the  v/ays  and  means  for  spreading  The  Message.  Abdul- Baha' s  tablets, 
dv/elling  upon  "teaching"  were  discussed  and  among  these  was  considered  that  tablet 
sent  over  a  year  before  and  addressed  to  the  Washington  friends,  exhorting  them  to 
teach  the  Cause  of  GOD  in  sixteen  mentioned  states  in  the  southern  pa-rt  of  this 
country. 

Desirous  of  serving  in  this  field  and  feeling  the  need  of,  and  the  de- 
sire for  a  companion  and  a  fellow  server  in  this  vork,  I  opened  up  former  nego- 
tiations, which  had  been  interrupt«-d  by  the  v.ar,  with  Mr.  John  B.  Bassett,  viiHi 
the  result  that,  together  wa  undertook  this  work  of  teaching  in  the  South. 

John  ^ssett,  originally  from  Chicago,  and  later  of  Schenectady,  Nev; 
York,  first  heard  of  the  Bahai  Revelation  about  tv/o  years  ago  through  Mr.  Albert 
Vail  who  lectured  in  Schenectady.  Subsequently  he  met  Mrs.  May  Maxwell  and 
others  and  became  a  confirmed  believer  and  was  actively  associated  in  the  Bahai 
propaganda  v/ith  Mr.  Allen  B,  McDaniel  in  Schenectady. 

Over  a  year  ago,  Mr.  Bassett  and  I  had  talked  together  of  traveling  and 
teaching,  but  as  it  T.-as  necessary  {or  him  to  enter  military  service,  for  the 
period  of  the  war,  our  hopes  and  plans  had  to  be  deferred  until  this  Spring,  -.vhen 
he  obtained  his  discharge  from^  active  service  in  the  navy  early  in  the  month  of 
March,  after  which  he  came  on  here  to  Washington,  preparatory  to  our   setting 
forth  together. 


-3- 

Before  leaving  Washington,  ho7/ever,  there  was  a  good  deal  of  preliminary 
vfork  to  be  done  tov/ard  getting  a  better  understanding  of  the  particular  problems 
now  agitating  the  public  aind  in  the  states  which  we  anticipated  visiting.  In 
this  natter  several  friends  of  the  cause  rendered  valuable  assistance. 

During  this  past  winter,  there  has  been  associated  with  the  cause,  liv- 
ing in  Washington,  Mrs.  Janowitz,  a  lady  whom  &eorge  Latimer  and  I  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  knowing  in  Honolulu,  several  years  ago,  one  v;ho  is  earnestly  working  and 
serving  to  hasten  the  realization  of  the  ABHA  Kingdom.  Mrs.  Janowitz  has  been  in 
the  employ  of  the  Department  of  Labor  of  the  United  States  Government,  working  in 
connection  v/ith  the  Bureau  of  Negro  Economics  -  she,  at  various  times  having  been 
sent  South  by  the  Department  to  study  questions  pertaining  to  racial  problems, 
with  the  hope  of  creating  as  much  co-operation  and  economic  adjustment,,  as  possi- 
ble betv/een  the  white  and  the  colored  races. 

Through  the  good  services  of  Krs.  Janowitz,  several  of  us  Bahais,  who 
have  these  racial  problems  much  at  heart,  became  better  informed  of  the  efforts 
being  made  in  government  circles  to  amicably  adjust  some  of  the  very  serious  as- 
pects of  this  race  problem. 

I  had  several  talks  with  Dr.  George  E.  Haynes,  formerly  a  professor  at 
Fiske  University  in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  one  of  the  largest  institutions  of 
lesirning  for  the  colored,  in  this  country.  At  present.  Dr.  Hajmes  is  at  the  head 
of  the  Bureau  of  Negro  Economics  in  the  Department  of  Labor.  Throxzgh  Dr.  Haynes, 
and  through  Mr.  Emmett  J.  Scott,  formerly  of  the  Tuskeege  Institute  and  at  present 
special  assistant  to  the  Secretary  of  War  in  negro  metters,  whom  I  also  met 
through  Mrs.  Janowitz,  I  gathered  a  good  deal  of  information  regarding  conditions 
among  the  colored  people  of  the  South.  Both  of  these  men  are  striving  to  amelio- 
rate the  condition  of  their  people,  so  various  phases  of  the  race  problem  were 
learned  of  in  detail,  and  many  good  siiggestions  were  received  regarding  the  pur- 
suance of  the  Bahai  work  among  people,  both  white  euid  colored,  names  and  addresses 
of  progressive  individuals  and  some  introductions  were  received,  all  of  which  will 
doubtless  be  of  value  in  the  pursuance  of  the  Bahai  work. 

I  must  not  omit  mention  of  Dr.  Thos.  Jesse  Jones  who  is  at  the  head  of 
the  division  of  Negro  Education  of  the  Department  of  Interior  Affairs,  through 
whose  kindness  I  v«ras  furnished  with  a  list  of  the  most  progressive  negro  educa- 
tional institutions  throughout  the  covmtry  where  it  was  hoped  that  the  Bahai 
Message  might  be  given. 

In  the  early  spring  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Board  of  The  Bahai 
Mashrak-El-Azkar  Unity  was  held  in  Washington,  and  while  the  out-of-town  members  I 
of  the  Board  were  in  the  city  it  was  arranged  to  have  them  meet  some  of  these 
aforementioned  workers  who  are  striving  to  better  the  condition  of  the  colored 
race.  Accordingly  Mrs.  Ledyard,  who  has  been  spending  this  winter  in  Washington, 
invited  this  ^oup  of  friends  to  her  home  where  a  notable  gathering  took  place. 

It  has  been  the  experience  of  the  Bahais  to  find  much  response  to  the 
teaching  among  those  people  in  general  who  have  at  heart  the  betterment  of  the 
condition  of  the  colored  people.  These  people  seem  to  recognize  that  nothing 
short  of  a  change  of  heart  and  of  spirit  can  dispel  the  increasing  animosity  and 
distrust  which  exists  between  the  two  races  in  this  country. 

In  considering  this  racial  problem  one  recalls  vividly  Abdul  Baha's 
admonition  to  the  people  of  America  given  in  this  covmtry  in  1912  -  forecasts  of 
impending  troubles  which  would  befall  the  nation  unless  this  racial  hatred  and 


enmity  were  overcome  and  replaced  by  trust  and  confidence;  but  now  to  one's  dismay 
he  finds  in  some  respects  the  alienation  of  the  races  to  be  on  the  increase  and 
the  separation  to  be  even  greater  than  before!  The  white  people  in  many  pari;s  of 
the  country  fear  the  negro  on  account  of  his  education  and  increasing  knov/ledge  of 
the  worlds  of  his  economic  independence,  and  of  the  increased  and  vddened  vision 
of  life  V7hich  he  is  now  receiving  from  the  colored  American  soldiers  now  returning 
from  Europe  where  they  fraternized  with  their  white  European  allies  and  v/ere  re- 
ceived as  social  equals. 

In  fact  as  one  views  the  present  racial  situation  in  this  country  he 
sees  that  the  people  of  both  races  have  much  to  lose  and  little  to  gain  in  the 
face  of  conflict  and  trouble,  whereas  if  all  these  adjustments  can  bt^  made  amica?- 
bly  between  the  negroes  and  the  whites  aJ.1  will  be  better  off  and  happier  than 
ever  before. 

It  therefore  seems  as  if  Abdul  Baha's  call  to  unfurl  the  standard  of 
Baha'o*llah  in  the  Southern  States  is  the  hope  of  conciliation  between  the  races, 
for  as  the  people  respond  to  the  call  and  to  the  spirit  of  The  Abha  Covenant, 
hearts  will  be  melted,  animosity  will  be  dispelled,  co-operation,  justice  and  op- 
portunities for  the  advancement  and  development  of  all  will  ensue,  and  there  will 
cease  to  be  a  "race  problem"  as  we  now  know  it. 

ooOoo 


-5- 

REPORT 

For  some  weeks  prior  to  staurting  South  I  had  been  writing  to  various 
persons  in  the  states  which  we  intended  visiting,  in  the  hope  that  through  coi^ 
respondence  the  way  might  be  opened  for  reaching  people  viith  the  teachings.   To 
this  end,  I  had  printed  an  outline  of  five  lectures  upon  the  Bahai  Cause,  with 
a  brief  historical  sketch  of  the  Revelation  and  some  of  its  salient  principles, 
and  also  another  leaflet  telling  about  the  Mashrak-El-Azkar  and  description  of 
a  series  of  preliminary  designs  for  the  temple  which  were  aveiilable  to  be  ex- 
hibited before  and  explained  either  to  people  interested  in  the  building  of  this 
edifice  or  to  those  interested  in  architecture  and  building.  Copies  of  these 
prospectuses  are  attaxjhed  to  this  report. 

In  order  to  secure  the  names  and  addresses  of  persons  residing  in  the 
South  who  might  be  already  interested  in  the  Cause,  a  general  letter  was  circu- 
lated among  the  Bahais  in  all  parts  of  Anerica  asking  them  for  the  names  and 
addresses  of  any  people  of  their  acquaintance  v/ho  were  interested  -  people  liv- 
ing in  the  territory  of  the  sixteen  states  mentioned  in  the  tablet  to  Washington 
as  follows: 

Delaware  South  Carolina  Louisiana  Mississippi 

Maryland  Georgia  Texas  Tennessee 

Virginia  Florida  Oklahoma  Kentucky 

North  Carolina  Alabama  Arkansas  West  Virgiiiia 

From  these  letters  there  were  many  replies  with  nameg  and  addiresses. 

Also  over  one  thousand  letters,  with  copies  of  the  above  mentioned 
prospectuses,  were  sent  forth  throughout  these  states  of  the  South  to  the  presi- 
dents of  colleges  and  universities,  clubs  and  societies  and  progressive  institu- 
tions, informing  these  people  of  this  occasion  to  learn  of  the  Bahai  Teachings, 
and  seeking  the  opportunity  to  tell  them  of  the  Message,  From  these  various 
missives  there  were  some  very  warm  responses.  Although  these  replies  were  not 
as  numerous  as  I  had  an\.icipated,  nevertheless  there  was  an  appreciable  result 
which  in  time  I  tirust  may  yield  good  fruits. 

Leaving  Washington  on  March  16th,  John  Bassett  and  I  went  by  boat  to 
Norfolk,  Virginia,  and  from  there  travelled  by  train  to  Washington,  in  North  Caro- 
lina, where  the  doors  were  open  to  the  dause.  Through  the  kindness  of  Mrs. 
Ifooper  Harris  of  New  York,  we  had  been  placed  in  correspondence  jtiih  her  brother- 
in-law  and  sister.  Dr.  and  I'jcb,   W.  H.  Carter  in  the  tovm  of  Washington,  and  at 
their  invitation  we  stayed  in  their  home  while  there. 

Mrs.  Harris  had  taught  in  Washington,  and  upon  one  occasion,  Mrs.  Haimen, 
of  Washington,  D.C.,  had  gone  there  on  a  similar  mission,  so  the  ground  had  been 
prepared. 

The  Carter  family  were  most  hospitable  and  kind  to  us,  and  throu^  their 
efforts  two  well  attended  meetings  were  arranged  in  their  home,  -  one  in  which  the 
history  and  general  teachings  of  the  cause  were  explained,  and  the  other  in  which 
the  Mashrak-El-Azkar  and  its  spiritual  and  philanthropic  functions  were  explained 
to  the  people.  The  response  was  good,  and  from  the  happiness  and  joy  in  the 
hearts  and  faces  we  felt  that  something  had  been  accomplished. 

In  Washington,  Y.C.,  there  is  a  large  negro  population,  among  the  mem- 
bers of  which  the  living  and  educationed  conditions  are  not  good.  Mrs.  Carter  is 


-6- 

interested  in  the  nsitter  of  a  nev;  school  house,  so  during  our  visit  a  meeting  was 
arranged  for  us  at  the  colored  school.  On  oxxr  vvay  thither  through  the  negro  quar- 
ter V7hich,  viTith  its  unpaved  streets  and  side  ',vali:s  presented  a  strong  contrast 
ViTith  the  general  character  of  the  rest  of  the  tov«n,  we  had  occasion  to  inquire 
from  an  old  colored  man  the  direction  of  the  school.  He  assured  us  that  vire  were 
heading  the  right  way,  adding  that  v;e  could  not  miss  finding  it  sines  it  Viras  the 
most  "tumbledov.'ndest"  building  on  the  street.  From  this  graphic  description  we 
had  no  difficulty  in  locating  the  school,  an  old  frame  building  crowded  to  the 
doors  and  the  windows  v/ith  the  audience  of  parents,  teachers  and  scholars  await- 
There  v;as  considerable  applause  when  Mrs.  Carter  spoke  of  •uhe  new  build- 
ing which  they  were  all  hoping  for,  -  about  as  much  applause  as  one  cared  to  wit- 
ness in  so  rickety  a  building,  -  after  which  the  children  who  ranged  froa  six  or 
seven  ysars  of  age  upv/ards,  sang  a  number  of  songs  -  hymns  at  first  and  later 
variot'-s  of  ths  real  negro  melodies.  All  listened  v/rapt  and  attentively  tb  the 
story  of  the  Bahai  Revelation,  and  as  The  L'e3s?.ge  of  The  Covenant  was  explained 
to  then  the  entire  crowd  of  f.vo  or  three  hundred  souls  seemed  to  respond  and  to 
vibrate  as  one  soul  in  many  bodies,  then  in  their  final  hjsin  they  gave  forth  in 
song  the  spiritual  note  struck  throv.gh  the  mentioning  of  the  Holy  Word.   It  v;as 
impressive.   Never  have  I  enjoyed  choral  singing  as  upon  that  day,  for  it  v;as 
indeed  melodies  produced  by  the  call  of  the  Kingdom. 

It  is  always  a  particular  joy  to  the  Bahai  teachers  when  they  find  a 
response  to  their  message  amongst  the  clergy  and  this  experience  was  one  of  our 
many  pleasures  v/hile  in  the  town  of  Washington.   Mrs.  Carter  arranged  a  morning 
for  us  with  the  clergymen  of  the  tvifo  princip.al  churches  of  the  town.   It  vvas  a 
memorable  interview,  one  which  I  will  always  look  back  upon  with  a  sense  of  real 
joy.   Both  gentlemen  T*ere  deeply  touched  by  the  message  and  by  the  spirit  of  the 
cause.  Passing  quickly  over  the  general  philosophic  principles  of  the  teachings, 
as  matters  the  truth  of  which  were  so  evident  that  they  offered  no  questions  nor 
arguments,  many  basic  and  fundamental  truths  were  discussed,  particularly  those 
relative  to  divine  revelation,  and  the  Reality  of  the  Uord  of  GOD,  and  of  His 
Manifestation.  Our  meei,ing  was  so  fragrant  and  harmonious,  and  there  '.vas  such 
gladness  of  heart  manifest  in  the  faces  of  each  one  present  that  we  knew  that  the 
spirit  of  El  ABHA  was  in  our  midst  and  that  in  the  Lord's  ov.'n  time  the  fruits  of 
that  day  would  be  forthcoming. 

In  several  of  the  towns  which  we  visited  upon  this  tour  we  v«ent  to  the 
public  libraries  in  order  to  ascertain  what  literature  upon  the  Bahai  Religion 
was  available  to  the  reading  public,  and  with  the  idea  of  the  possibility  of 
placing  in  libraries,  where  acceptable,  some  of  those  Bahai  publications  siuted 
to  the  general  reading  public. 

Mrs.  Carter  v/as  interested  in  gettirig  some  Bahai  literature  into  the 
local  public  library  in  her  town,  so  we  wrote  to  JG-Ss  Elizabeth  Hopper,  the 
Secretary  of  the  Bahai  Library  Coimittee  in  Washington,  D.C.,  that  she  might  for- 
ward to  Mrs.  Carter,  for  the  tov/n  library,  copies  of  such  books  as  the  committee 
had  in  hand,  thus  naking  it  possible  for  those  \7ith  whom  we  met  and  talked,  as 
well  as  others,  to  follow  up  their  first  interest  with  a  systematic  study  of  the 
teachings. 

An  effort  has  been  made  upon  the  part  of  this  Library  Committee,  appoint- 
ed by  the  annual  convention  of  Eahais,  to  enlist  the  co-operation,  of  the  friends 
in  the  various  assemblies  in  placing  those  Bahai  books  which  are  suitable  for 
general  circulation  in  their  local  public  libraries.  During  the  past  three  or 


-7- 

four  years  between  three  and  four  thousand  books  and  bound  pamphlets  have  been 
thus  placed  in  libraries  v.ith  the  hope  of  furthering  the  knowledge  of  the  cause. 

The  Bahai  Library  Committee  has  extended  a  general  call  to  the  friends 
in  all  parts  asking  them  to  arrange  with  the  librarians  of  public  libraries  to 
apply  for  Bahai  books  addressing  their  conmunications  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Bahai  Library  Coiaiiittee,  P.  0.  Box  1319,  Washington,  D.  C. 

ooOoo- — 

On  leaving  TsTashington,  North  Carolina,  our  next  stop  was  in  Greenville 
in  the  same  state.  There  re   called  upon  Mrs.  K.  R.  Beckwith  (to  whom  we  had  a 
letter  of  introduction  from  Dr.  Carter).  Mrs.  Beckwith  is  the  principal  of  the 
East  Carolina  Teachers  Training  School  ~  a  large  institution  v/here  three  hundred 
young  woEJsn  are  being  educated  to  become  teachers.   This  lady  received  us  very 
graciously  and  listened  with  interest  to  an  account  of  our  woi'k.   The  daily 
curriculum  of  the  school  was  so  filled  and  taken  up  that  there  was  no  oppor- 
tunity on  that  day  for  us  to  talk  before  the  student  body,  but  an  evening 
gathering  of  the  teachers  v.-as  arranged  which  proved  to  be  very  satisfactory. 

The  talk  comir.enced  with  a  discourse  upon  the  influence  of  religion 
upon  civilization  and  architecture,  which  led  to  a  description  of  the  Mashrak- 
El-Azkar  and  an  exposition  of  some  of  the  preliminary  designs  for  the  edifice 
to  be  built  in  Chicago.   Af terv.-ards,  as  every  one  was  thoroughly  interestedj 
questions  were  asked  regarding  the  cause  and  the  spiritual  teaching.   It  was  late 
in  the  night  when,  with  happy  heart.:,,  we  left  the  school  for  we  had  been  able  to 
speak  freely  and  fully  of  the  Bahai  Message  and  Glad  Tidings,  and  all  which  had 
been  said  had  been  received  with  joy  and  fragrance  so  from  the  glow  within  our 
own  hearts  we  felt  that  that  which  we  had  offered  to  our  audience  had  been  well 
accepted. 

ooOoo 

Raleigh,  the  capitol  city  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina  was  our  next 
field  of  activity.  Here  we  knew  no  people,  nor  did  we  have  letters  to  anyone,  al- 
though we  knew  the  name  of  a  prominent  clubwoman  of  broad  interests,  Mrs. 
Timberlake.  T7e  called  upon  this  lady  and  told  her  of  our  -/ork  and  of  the  meetings 
held  in  Greenville  and  in  Washington.  She  became  interested,  and  through  her 
kindness  we  met  several  other  progressive  women  which  resulted  in  a  meeting  in  an 
auditoritim  in  the  Woman's  Club.  At  this  meeting  a  good  and  responsive  audience 
assembled  to  hear  the  message  with  particular  respect  to  the  influence  of  the 
Bahai  Revelation  for  the  upliftment  of  women. 

The  audience  listened  very  attentively  to  the  account  of  the  life  of 
Kurat-Ul-Ayn  and  of  the  great  work  which  she  accomplished  and  they  vrere  much  in- 
terested in  hearing  about  the  Bahai  women  in  Persia  and  other  countries  in  the 
East  and  the  freedom  from  ignorance  and  the  educational  advantages  which  the  Bahai 
Cause  is  inculcating  into  the  mind  of  humanity,  all  of  which  is  so  changing  and 
ameliorating  the  status  of  woman  in  the  Orient.   The  two  Raleigh  daily  papers 
published  good  articles  which,  in  order  to  secure  accuracy  of  statement,  we  our- 
selves had  written  about  the  lecture,  so  we  had  some  publicity  of  a  good  character. 

We  were  in  Raleigh  at  a  time  when  the  public  mind  was  much  occupied 
with  the  returning  troops  of  soldiers  from  Europe.  Triumphal  arches  spanned  the 
streets,  buildings  were  hung  with  flags,  strains  of  martial  music  were  heard 


-8- 

repeatedly  from  the  passing  bands  while  thousands  of  people  from  the  countryside 
thronged  the  streets.  This  general  prevailing  excitement  made  it  somewhat  diffi- 
cult to  get  hearings  for  the  message.   In  various  ways  we  tried  to  increase  our 
scope  of  work.  Visiting  the  Agricultural  and  Engineering  University  in  the  out- 
skirts of  the  city^  we  interviewed  the  professor  in  charge  of  the  department  of 
civil  engineering  and  architecture,  suggesting  that  Vire  give  an  illustrated  lecture 
upon  the  Mashrak-El-Azkar,  explaining  this  architectural  and  engineering  problem 
to  the  students  and  faculty,  hut  there  7/as  too  much  going  on  that  week  to  admit  of 
this  matter,  through  which  we  had  hoped  wovild  be  aroused  some  interest  in  the  cause. 
Then  we  directed  our  steps  toward  Shaw  University,  which  is  the  principal  institu- 
tion of  learning  in  those  parts  for  the  members  of  the  colored  race.  Here  we  were 
very  cordially  received,  were  given  seats  upon  the  platform  at  their  morning  chaper. 
exercises,  and  there  a  couple  of  days  later,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  addressed  an  audience  of  fine  young  colored  men,  giving 
them  as  comprehensive  an  outline  as  the  hour  would  allow,  of  the  principles  and 
the  divine  foundation  of  The  Holy  Cause.  The  Dean  of  the  University  and  several 
other  members  of  the  faculty  were  present  and  the  response  was  very  good.  We 
found  that  our  Bahai  fellow  servant  and  brother  Mr.  Gregory  had  lectured  upon  the 
Eahai  Religion  before  the  students  of  Shaw,  so  through  his  work  our  way  there  had 
been  feicilitated  and  made  easy. 

ooOoo — 

Colianbia,  the  capitol  of  South  Carolina,  was  our  next  abiding  place. 
Here  we  had  a  difficult  time  in  finding  a  listening  ear.  We  visited  the  l&iiver- 
sity  of  South  Carolina,  which  is  the  most  importajat  institution  of  learning  in 
Columbia,  and  there  arranged  with  the  president  and  one  of  the  professors  for  a 
lecture  to  be  given  upon  the  "Influence  of  Religion  upon  Architecture",  to  be  il- 
lustrated with  the  Maskrak-El-Azkar  designs,  but  after  the  matter  wag  all  arranged 
and,  as  we  thought,  settled,  the  president  of  the  university  became  troubled  and 
would  not  allow  the  meeting  to  be  held.  He  vmdoubtedly  feared  the  criticism  of 
the  people,  because  the  Bahai  Religion  was  not  known  to  them,  so  we  went  our  way. 

Having  failed  with  this  university,  which  was  for  the  white  students,  we 
visited  Benedict  College,  which  is  a  large  university  for  colored  people,  the 
president  and  some  of  the  faculty  of  which  are  white  people.  Here  also  it  was 
impossible  to  gain  an  entrance  or  to  find  an  audience.   In  brief,  during  our  visit 
in  that  city  we  found  no  opening  by  which  an  audience  could  be  assembled,  though 
we  labored  diligently. 

For  example,  one  day  John  Bassett  called  at  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  and  interviewed  a  gentleman  in  charge  in  the  hope  of  there  finding 
an  opening  for  the  Glad  Tidings  of  Baha'o'llah.  This  man  questioned  him  closely 
about  our  work,  travels,  etc.,  but  n&s   not  awake  to  the  spiritual  reality  of 
religion.  He  asked  John  as  to  what  money  he  was  making  from  the  Bahai  Teaching, 
and  when  John  informed  him  that  he  v/as  not  only  receiving  no  pay,  but  was  defray- 
ing his  own  expenses  from  money  which  he  had  earned  in  his  profession,  the  gentle- 
man marveled,  and  presumed  to  suggest  to  him  that  he  wovild  do  better  were  he 
to  engage  in  the  Yovmg  Men's  Christian  Association  work  for  there  he  would  receive 
a  salary  for  services  rendered. 

After  various  disappointments,  in  the  end  we  met  with  one  lady,  the  wife 
of  a  judge  of  one  of  the  local  courts,  and  we  found  this  lady  to  be  most  sympa- 
thetic, receptive  and  alive  to  the  truths  of  The  Bahai  Cause,  so  we  knew  that  our 
stay  in  that  town  had  been  successful  despite  the  many  disappointments. 

ooOoo 


-9- 

Leaving  Columbia  we  journeyed  to  Augusta  in  Georgia,  Miss  Margaret 
Klebbs^  a  teacher  of  vocal  culture  and  a  friend  of  Miss  Farmer,  who  for  a  number 
of  years  had  been  associated  v/ith  the  Bahai  v/ork  at  Green  Acre,  spends  her  winters 
in  Augusta,  v/here  she  has  been  blessed  by  diffusing  the  ABHA  fragrances  in  the 
hearts  of  a  number  of  people,  some  of  whom  are  believers,  while  others  are  becomr- 
ing  deeply  attached  to  the  cause. 

We  spent  eight  busy  days  in  Augusta,  addressing  meetings  and  holding 
long  conversations  upon  the  teachings  with  the  various  people  attracted.  Miss 
Klebbs  kindly  engaged  accommodations  for  us  in  the  same  house  where  she  has  her 
studio  for  instructing  her  pupils,  and  as  this  Vifas  very  centrally  located,  and 
easy  of  access  from  all  parts  of  the  city,  the  work  was  facilitated  and  so  arranged 
that  we  met  many  people  with  ease. 

Miss  Julia  Moore,  one  of  the  editors  of  the  "Augusta  Herald"  is  doing 
much  to  assist  in  the  Bahai  work.  Through  the  kind  services  of  this  lady,  we  had 
some  good  publicity  in  her  paper  -  meetings  v/ere  announced  -  and  articles  upon 
the  history  and  principles  of  the  cause  were  published.  The  night  after  our  ar- 
rival in  Augusta,  a  large  meeting  was  arranged  in  the  home  of  Miss  Julia  Moore  - 
people  of  various  churches  and  different  thoughts,  including  a  clergyman,  comr 
prising  the  audience.  The  topic  jpresented  was  the  Oneness  of  all  Religions  and 
the  Manifestation  of  this  day.  All  present  seemed  happy  and  attracted. 

The  City  of  Aiken,  South  Carolina,  is  not  very  far  from  Atigusta.  Miss 
Klebbs  spends  a  certain  amount  of  time  there,  where  she  has  succeeded  in  inter- 
esting some  people  in  the  Bahai  work. 

Through  a  notice  in  the  local  Aiken  paper,  the  public  was  invited  to  a 
meeting  there  held  in  the  studio  of  Miss  Blondelle  Malone,  a  painter  of  land- 
scapes. There  was  quite  a  good  turn  out  of  people,  though  not  as  many  as  we  had 
expected-  The  people  are  apt  to  be  so  busy  with  various  matters  that  it  is  quite 
impossible  to  find  a  time  to  hold  a  Bahai  meeting  which  will  not  conflict  v/ith 
something  which  some  of  the  people  will  want  to  do.   The  day  of  o\ir  meeting  in 
Aiken  there  was  another  matter  which  claimed  the  attention  of  a  number  of  those 
whom  Miss  Klebbs  had  expected  in  our  gathering,  nevertheless  the  meeting  yreis  a 
very  good  one,  for  it  seemed  as  if  the  very  people  who  were  ready  for  The  Message 
of  the  Covenant  gathered  to  meet  us. 

The  first  part  of  the  meeting  was  devoted  to  The  Mashrak-El-Azkar  and 
the  influence  of  religion  upon  civilization  and  art,  after  which  The  Message  of 
the  Great  Universal  Master,  Baha*o»llah,  was  explained  to  the  people  and  they  v/ere 
told  of  the  Center  of  the  Covenant  and  of  the  life  and  service  of  Abdul-Baha,  of 
His  spiritual  penetrative  power,  of  the  great  love  which  He  has  for  all  humanity, 
and  of  the  lives  of  the  people  of  various  religions,  races,  nationalities  and 
classes. now  being  reached  by  the  spirit  of  Baha'o*llah  through  The  Center  of  The 
Covenant. 

During  the  latter  part  of  this  meeting,  a  hushed  spirit  ^prevailed  in  the 
room,  and  the  whole  thought  of  the  gathering  seemed  to  be  concentrated  upon  the 
one  pivotal  point,  the  Center  of  the  Covenant.'  It  is  very  difficult  to  put  into 
a  word  picture  one's  impression  of  such  a  deeply  spiritual  gathering  -  there  re- 
mains always  something  which  perforce  is  left  unsaid,  therefore  I  find  it  impossi- 
ble to  convey  in  words  the  spiritual  fragrance  of  that  meeting  -  a  gathering  which 
in  the  beginning  was  almost  a  disappointment  because  a  number  of  those  whose  pres- 
ence had  been  anticipated  v/ere  not  there,  yet  in  the  end  it  proved  to  have  been 
arranged,  as  it  v/ere,  by  Divine  Providence.  In  this  Bahai  work  this  has  very 


-10- 

often  proven  to  be  the  case.     Tilhen  a  planned  meeting  does  not  carry  out  the  origi- 
nal plan  of  the  friends,    one  finds  almost  irvariably,    that  it  turns  out  to  be  a 
far  better  raseting  and  one  more  productive  of  spiritual   fragrance  than  coiold  pos- 
sibly have  been  arranged  and  anticipated  by  hvunan  thought  and  calculation. 

— ooOoo — 

One  evening  Miss  Klebbs  arranged  a  meeting  in  her  studio.  Some  of  her 
vocal  pupils  sang;  the  significance  of  the  Ilashrak- EL-Azkar  v/as  n::plained  as  well 
as  a  general  summary  of  the  Bahai  teaching,  particularly  upon  the  principle  of  the 
Oneness  of  the  T^orld  of  Huinar.ity  as  expressed  in  the  Mashrak-El-Azkar. 

The  most  stirring  meeting  held  while  we  were  in  Augusta  took  place  in 
the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jas.  H.  Jackson,  in  North  Augusta,  whose  daijghter  Jfrs. 
Daisy  Moore  is  a  believer.  About  forty  were  present,  a  few  of  whom  were  believers 
while  the  rest  v/ere  interested  and  attracted,  Since  the  majority  of  those  present 
had  been  brought  up  in  the  oi-thodoxy  of  the  Chx'iscian  teaching  tho  message  was 
presejited  from  tho  standpoint  or  foundaticai  of  Christianity  anJ  hhe  BiMical  pro- 
phecies and  proofs,  with  particular  emphasis  oipon  the  unity  of  all  religions  and 
the  ABIIA  Kingdom,  which  is  sustained  by  the  words  of  Christ  and  the  Prophets. 

Several  people  present  asked  questions  -  one  gentleman  in  partictO-ar  -  a 
lawyer  queried  and  quizzed  to  his  heart's  content.  It  was  really  ssionishing  that 
one  could  think  of  so  many  intricate  questions  to  ask.  Later  on,  we  found  that  he 
had  merely  been  voicing  inquei-ies  made  by  a  lady  v/ho  sat  near  hiii,  who,  not  vash- 
ing  to  appear  herself  as  an  inquirer,  had  arranged  with  him  to  propound  an  inter- 
rogation upon  her  behalf. 

Usually  one  seeks  to  avoid  such  a  bombardment  of  questioning  before  a 
large  gathering  for  it  is  sometimes  difficxxlt  to  preserve  equanimity  and  the  spirit 
of  unity  under  such  circumstances,  but  in  this  particular  gathering  the  Bahai 
spirit  was  so  strong  amid  the  group  that  this  storm  of  Questions  and  cross  ques- 
tions only  brought  out  more  clearly  and  more  3)erf ectly  the  presentation  of  the 
Glad  Tidings.  Every  one  present  seemed  too  in  the  best  of  spirits  and  happy  and 
attracted  so  we  felt  that  the  evening  had  been  a  spiritual  success. 

Besides  meeting  the  Augusta  people  in  the  gatherings  described  above,  we 
had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  various  ones  individually  and  of  holding  personal 
interviev/s  with  them.  One  v/as  a  Christian  Scientist^  another,  a  lady  -  a  writer 
from  Boston  who  had  attended  Bahai  Meetings  in  New  England  -  and  another  a  physi- 
cian of  note,  who  was  one  of  the  most  sincere  and  attracted  seekers  of  truth  whom 
we  met  while  on  our  travels*  This  gentleman  had  been  a  student  of  religion  for 
some  years  and  had  delved  and  studied  and  was  prepared  for  the  knowledge  of  the 
"Manifested  Word"  v/hich  we  explained  to  him  and  to  which  he  was  responsively  at- 
tracted. In  fact  we  had  several  visits  together  and  when  we  left,  he  gave  us  the 
names  and  addresses  of  three  friends  of  his  in  Savannah,  and  of  a  lady  living  in 
Jacksonville,  Florida,  whom  he  assured  us  were  students  of  truth  and  v/ould  welcome 
the  Bahai  Message. 

In  fact  we  were  much  impressed  by  the  spiritual  influence  v.'hich  lUss 
Kleobs  has  made  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  in  Augusta,  for  we  found  that  although 
the  people  there  needed  to  study  and  to  learn  more  than  they  knew  about  the  Holy 
Teachings  of  The  Revelation,  they  were  nevertheless  profoundly  impressed  and 
attracted  -  yet  vi^e  felt  that  much  teaching  and  study  was  needed  in  those  parts  in 
order  to  confirm  the  people  in  the  service  of  The  Covenant.  Mr.  Joseph  Hanncn  of 
Washington,  D.C.,  had  lectured  upon  the  cause  in  Augusta  a  year  or  two  before  our 


-11- 

visit,  and  now  we  hope  other  may  go  there,  from  time  to  time  to  help  Miss  Klebbs 
with  her  work, 

ooOoo 

While  in  Augusta  we  received  many  letters  and  telegrams  from  the  friends 
who  were  arranging  for  the  Bahai  Convention  to  be  held  in  New  York  -  all  urging  our 
immediate  return  to  the  North  that  we  might  there  engage  v/ith  them  in  makiiig  pre- 
paration for  the  coming  Convention  and.   Congress. 

The  friends  were  so  sincere  and  pressing  and  so  united  in  their  urge  to 
us  that  for  a  time  we  considered  returning  North,  However,  after  much  thought  and 
consideration,  we  decided  that  there  were  many  Bahais  in  New  York  to  arrange  for 
the  convention  while  for  the  moment  there  were  but  the  two  of  iis  toiuring  and  teach- 
ing in  ths  South,  so  we  determined  to  continue  our  teaching,  for  we  knew  that  after 
the  convention  was  over  the  coming  hot  weather  and  siuomer  season  would  be  too  ad- 
vanced for  work  in  that  part  of  the  country.  Therefore  it  seemed  imperative  that 
we  continue  our  mission  since  these  Southei^n  travels  had  already  been  an  entirely 
too  long  delayed  effort  in  response  to  Abdul-Baha*s  call  received  a  year  and  some 
months  before. 

ooOoo-— 

■ 

•  From  Augusta  we  went  to  Atlanta  in  the  same  state.  For  several  years 
there  have  been  some  Eahais  in  Atlanta.  Mr.  Fred  Mortensen  once  sp'^nt  a  year  there 
and  gave  the  message  to  some  souls  who  believed,  and  later  one  of  the  old  Chicago 
believers.  Dr.  J.  C.  Oakshette,  settled  there.  On  our  arrival  we  foimd  Dr.  Oak- 
shette  ill,  but  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  Mr,  J-  Elmore  Hays,  a  friend  of  Mr. 
Mortensen,  and  also  Mrs.  Minge,  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Diggett  of  Chicago.  These 
Bahais  were  very  kind  and  hospitable  to  us,  and  in  their  company  we  passed  some 
profitable  hours. 

In  response  tr  one  of  the  circular  letters  and  the  prospectus  of  lec- 
tures sent  out  from  Washington,  we  had  been  in  correspondence  with  Mrs.  Rose  M. 
Ashby,  the  founder  and  president  of  the  "Psychological  Society"  of  Atlanta.  This 
lady  was  attracted  by  what  she  had  heard  of  the  Bahai  Cause,  and  had  extended  to  us 
an  invitation  to  meet  with  the  society  of  which  she  was  the  leader,  bo  we  placed 
oiurselves  in  communication  v;ith  her  as  soon  as  possible  after  reaching  the  city. 
We  found  Mrs.  Ashby  to  be  q.uite  a  moving  spirit  in  the  midst  of  a  large  group  of 
thinking  and  wide  awake  people.  One  afternoon  she  assembled  a  few  persons  who  were 
interested  in  the  history  of  anciert  Egypt  and  vifho  had  been  making  a  particular 
study  of  the  pyramids.  Somewhat  hastily  and  crudely  we  made  a  diagram  drawing  of 
the  Great  Pyramid  and  I  was  able  to  tell  them  some  things  about  its  struct-ure  of 
which  they  had  not  known,  after  which  the  conversation  was  tiirned  toward  the 
Egyptian  belief  in  the  immortality  of  the  soul  and  at  this  point  the  Bahai  Teach- 
ing of  immortality  was  introduced  as   the  full  and  perspected  assxirance  of  the  futurt 
life  which  the  teachings  of  the  religions  of  the  past  had  introduced  eind  for  which 
they  had  paved  the  way. 

It  was  on  a  Sunday  afternoon  that  we  met  with  the  people  of  the  Psycho- 
logical Society  at  their  regular  place  of  meeting  at  the  Ansley  Hotel,  one  of  the 
large  Atlanta  hostelries.  A  good  and  a  most  unusxial  audience  composed  of  people 
of  almost  every  type  and  shade  of  modern  thought,  people  who  were  but  partially 
satisfied  with  the  spiritual  knowledge  which  was  theirs  but  who  were  open  and  re- 
ceptive to  truth  from  whatever  horizon  it  might  cast  its  light  and  shine  upon  them. 
The  oneness  of  the  foundation  of  all  religions  and  the  Oneness  and  Singleness  of 


-12- 

of  the  Word  of  GOD  wag  the  ba?ic  of  the  presentation  which  led  up  to  the  Bahai  Reve- 
lation of  thie  day  and  its  relation  to  the  particular  world  problems  of  this  new 
day  and  age. 

Rarely  have  I  ever  met  with  a  more  receptive  and  attracted  group  of 
souls.  Under  such  circumstances  when  the  audience  is  drinking  in  every  word  in 
harmony  and  fragrance  of  thought,  one  is  quite  conscious  of  the  descent  of  the 
divine  confirmations  into  his  soul  and  the  going  out  of  a  spiritual  force  from  his 
heart  to  the  hearts  of  those  v/ho  are  hearing.  Thus  the  seeds  of  the  knowledge  of 
the  Kingdom  seem  to  be  sown  in  the  hearts  of  the  people.  It  is  my  earnest  hope 
that  I  may  again  visit  that  group  of  soiils  in  Atlanta  and  try  to  do  more  toward 
placing  them  in  touch  with  the  center  of  the  life  of  the  iJew  Kingdcan, 

While  in  Atlanta  I  met  one  night  informally  with  a  group  of  Theosophists. 
The  Bahais  invariably  find  much  in  common  with  Theosophists.  After  speaking  about 
the  cause  and  its  teachings  one  gentleman  present  said  that  he  could  see  no  dis- 
agreement between  the  Bahai  and  the  Theosophical  teachings  and  he  asked  me  if  there 
was  any  point  of  difference!  He  seemed  very  much  aroused  and  awc-.kened  v/hen  told 
that  the  principle  difference  between  the  Bahais  and  the  Theosophists  was  that  the 
Theosophists  were  looking  and  praying  for  the  coming  of  the  Great  World  Master 
(l/Ianifestation)  while  the  Bahais  knew  that  He  had  come.   I  left  the  house  of  meet- 
ing in  company  with  that  man  and  in  parting  with  him  at  the  corner  of  two  streets, 
he  taking  one  way  and  I  another,  I  could  see  as  my  eye  followed  him  disappearing 
into  the  night  that  he  went  away  thinking  deeply  over  all  which  he  had  heard. 

ooOoo — 

Leaving  Atlanta,  we  went  down  into  Florida,  our  first  stop  in  that  state 
being  Jacksonville.  Here  we  spent  a  busy  week.  Calling  there  upon  the  lady  whose 
name  had  been  given  us  by  the  physician  in  Augusta,  we  were  very  cordially  received 
and  entertained,  she  suggesting  to  us  several  names  of  people  known  to  be  progres- 
sive in  religious  matters  -  also  advising  us  to  see  the  president  of  the  Jackson 
Art  Club  in  order  to  enlist  his  aid  in  arranging  for  an  exhibition  of  some  of  the 
preliminary  drawings  for  the  Mashrak-El-Azkar,  and  v/ith  this  as  a  basis  of  interest, 
be  able  to  speak  with  them  about  the  cause  and  its  principles. 

The  president  of  the  Art  Club  we  fovmd  to  be  most  affable,  and  through 
his  kindness  arrangements  were  made  for  holding  an  exhibition  in  the  auditorium  of 
the  Woman's  Club,  which  was  a  large  hall,  the  club  building  being  centrally  located 
in  the  heart  of  the  city.  Moreover  this  sane  gentleman  introduced  us  to  the  art 
editors  of  the  two  leading  daily  papers,  both  young  women  who  found  sufficient 
interest  in  the  exhibition  to  give  it  a  series  of  very  good  writeups,  which  at- 
tracted a  good  many  people,  and  brought  them  to  the  exhibit.  From  these  people 
there  were  some  who  were  led  to  investigate  the  teaching. 

A  New  Thought  center,  the  members  of  which  met  in  a  small  auditorium  in 
the  Womans'  Club  building,  was  an  open  door  to  us,  for  they  welcomed  us  in  their 
meetings,  where  we  met  and  spoke  with  a  nximber  of  people  who  were  seeking  spiritual 
knowledge.  Some  of  these  persons  invited  us  to  their  homes,  ajid  in  this  manner  we 
addressed  several  parlor  groups. 

The  night  before  we  left  Jacksonville,  we  held  a  meeting  of  our  own  in 
the  small  auditorium  of  the  Womans'  Club,  which  we  had  rented  for  the  piirpose,  the 
larger  auditorium  on  the  floor  below,  where  our  Mashrak-El-Azkar  drawings  v/ere 
still  hanging,  being  used  that  night,  and  at  the  same  hour  as  our  meeting,  by  an 
organization  of  Russellites  who  were  preaching  of  the  second  coming  of  Christ. 


-13- 

Practically  all  of  the  people  with  whom  v;e  had  met  and  talked  while  in  Jackson- 
ville came  to  our  meeting,  and  there  were  others  besides  attracted  by  the  publicity 
kindly  accorded  us  by  the  newspapers.  I  should  say  there  were  between  thirty- five 
and  forty  people  there,  and  there  was  a  very  good  spirit  present  v/hich  increased 
in  fervor  as  the  vcirious  principles  and  constructive  doctrines  of  t'ne  cause  were 
explained  with  enphasis  on  the  necessity  for  man  to  investigate  those  various 
truths  and  prove  their  verity.  This  led  up  to  The  Message  of  Ths  Covenan-i  and  to 
dwelling  at  some  length  upon  the  mission  of  Abdul  Eaha  and  the  gotpel  of  his  daily 
life  of  service  to  humanity. 

We  left  Jacksonville  feeling  that  a  spiritual  touch  had  been  made  with 
certain  people,  and  trusting  that  others  of  the  Bahais  and  perhaps  Wc,  ourselves, 
might  agsdn  be  privileged  to  visit  there  in  order  to  keep  in  Bahai  touch  with 
those  who  received  the  Glad  Tidings  with  such  sympathy. 

- — ooOoo 

From  Jacksonville  we  made  a  visit  of  one  njght  and  parts  of  two  days  in 
Fernandina,  a  small  tov.Ti  on  the  Florida  coast  near  the  Georgia  lire.  For  seme 
years  I  had  been  in  correspondence  with  our  people  there,  most  cf  whom  had  first 
heard  of  the  message  through  the  teaching  of  Mrs.  Laura  Fitzhugli  Preston,  a  Bahai 
and  a  resident  of  Fernandina,  who  had  been  untiring  in  her  efforts  to  spread  the 
Glad  Tidings  among  the  people  until  she  v/as  called  to  enter  into  the  life  of  the 
world  beyond  about  a  year  prior  to  our  visit. 

We  were  quite  impressed  by  the  love  and  devotion  of  the  f viends  in  Fer- 
nandina to  the  memory  of  Mrs.  Preston.  They  arranged  for  us  to  meet  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Jeffries,  showed  us  the  ruins  of  her  former  home  overgrown  with  vines  and 
brambles,  which  was  burned  some  years  before,  and  the  small  house  in  which  she 
lived,  in  the  time  of  trouble  follovifing  her  material  losses  during  which  epoch  she 
became  a  confirmed  servant  of  the  cause.  They  all  spoke  most  affectionately  and 
appreciatively  of  her  service  in  telling  them  of  the  Glad  Tidings. 

It  is  indeed  an  appreciated  blessing  when  Bahai  travellers  find  them- 
selves amid  warm  and  loving  friends  in  a  strange  part  of  the  country.  This  was 
particularly  true  in  our  case  during  these  travels,  because,  with  the  exception 
of  but  a  few  towns  and  cities,  in  the  majority  of  places  v;e  arrived  as  streu^gers, 
our  first  problem  being  to  make  friends  with  the  people,  therefore  when  we  found 
friends  awaiting  us,  we  were  appreciative  of  this  -ABHA  blessing. 

As  our  train  pulled  into  the  station  at  Fernandina  the  first  person  we 
saw  upon  the  platform  v/as  a  Bahai  brother,  Jim  Stone.  Though  we  had  corresponded 
for  some  years,  this  was  my  first  meeting  with  him,  and  I  was  happy  to  be  able  to 
recognize  him  from  the  Bahai  look  in  his  face,  this  spirit  of  his  I  had  become 
quite  familiar  with  through  his  letters.  Also  at  the  statiai  there  were  several 
other  Bahais  awaiting  us,  and  we  soon  found  oxarselves  in  a  motor,  on  the  way  to 
the  home  of  Prof,  and  Mrs.  Grimwald,  where  it  was  arranged  that  we  should  lunch. 

In  the  afternoon,  in  compemy  with  Ifr.  Stone,  we  made  a  round  of  the  town^ 
calling  upon  numerous  men,  whom  he  had  interested  in  the  teachings,  and  with  whom 
he  was  desirous  that  we  should  speak  regarding  the  cause  and  its  philosophy.  Late 
in  the  afternoon  the  group  of  about  a  dozen  believers  assembled  in  the  home  of  the 
Nagle  family  where  a.  spiritual  feast  was  served.  We  all  sat  around  a  tea  table 
partaking  of  various  refreshments  both  before  and  after  which  tablets,  teachings 
and  prayers  were  read,  and  we  talked  of  Abdul  Baha.  The  real  spirit  of  the  Cove- 
nant so  reigned  in  that  meeting  that  our  hearts  were  vibrant  with  the  ABHA  love. 


}A9-  csO-'- 


-14- 

which  was  reflected  in  the  countenances  of  all,  noticeably  in  the  faces  of  several 
of  Mrs.  Nagle's  little  grandchildren,  who  were  present  with  us. 

To  my  delight,  I  found  that  Mrs.  Nagle  was  a  native  of  WiK-ttetoburg, 
though  she  had  lived  many  years  in  this  country.  Se  was  very  farailiar  vath  Stutt- 
gart and  the  vicinity,  which  through  the  Bahais  there  and  my  experiences  among 
them  in  the  suaraer  of  1914,  brought  many  spiritual  associations  tc  my  raind.  The 
extreme  firmness  in  the  Covenant  of  the  Bahais  in  those  parts  of  Germany  is  as  a 
refreshing  fragrance  to  ray  soul,  and  I  long  for  the  time  when  tranquillity  will 
again  reign  in  Europe  and  correspondence  may  be  re-established  between  the  Bahai 
friends  upon  both  sides  of  the  recent  lines  of  battle,  so  that  we  may  again  be 
united  in  friendly  intercourse  as  we  have  never  ceased  to  be  united  in  the  love  of 
Abdul  Baha  during  these  years  of  weu:  and  bloodshed. 

Before  arriving  in  Fernandina,  thi'ough  Mr.  Stone,  Mrs.  M.  H,  Smith  had 
offered  to  us  the  hospitality  of  her  establishment,  a  lodging  house  and  restaurant 
near  the  railroad  station.  It  was  suggested  by  some  others,  however,  that  we  might 
prefer  to  go  to  the  hotel  of  the  town  where  we  might  be  more  Generally  located. 
Upon  thinking  it  over,  hov/ever,  v/e  decided  that  we  would  rather  be  with  our  own 
people,  BO  Mrs-  Smith  and  her  son  made  us  very  comfortable  and  happy  at  their  place; 
In  writing  to  us  of  the  various  Bahai  people  in  Fernandina,  Mr.  Stone  had  remarked 
of  Ifrs.  Smith's  son  "You  will  like  Gus!  Everybody  likes  Gusl"  all  of  which  came 
about  and  we  witnessed  as  foretold  and  more  thein  that  -  we  found  out  why  everybody 
liked  himl  It  was  because  he  liked  everybody  himself  and  had  such  a  cheery,  happy 
spirit  that  people  simply  had  to  like  him! 

A  large  public  meeting  had  been  arranged  by  Mr.  Stone,  It  was  held  in 
the  evenirig  in  the  Opera  House,  and  had  been  well  written  up  in  the  local  paper 
of  the  town,  so  we  had  a  good  audience,  representative  of  the  Bahai  group  and 
their  friends  and  the  people  whom  they  had  ir.-':erested.  The  general  discourse  was 
upon  the  Bahai  Principles,  for  the  reconstruction  of  the  world  of  hvunanity,  and 
the  teaching  of  Baha'o'llah  regarding  Universal  Peace  and  the  Bahai  means  for  its 
accomplishment,  the  great  foundation  of  which  is  The  Covenant  of  The  Holy  Word  of 
GOD. 

Every  moment  of  our  stay  in  Fernandina  was  a  pleasure,  and  I  find  myself 
constantly  reverting  in  oy  mind  to  our  short  but  memorable  visit  with  the  Bahais 
there,  I  feel  that  one  reason  why  their  confirmation  is  so  real  is  because  they 
have  been  doing  a  good  deal  of  teaching  and  spreading  the  knowledge  of  the  Covenant^ 
and  in  this  way  have  the  blessed  fragrances  of  El  ABHA  been  wafted  their  way. 

ooOoo — - 

Going  south  from  Jacksonville,  we  stopped  for  a  few  hours  in  St.  Augus- 
tine, where  we  had  one  address  or  two.  One  of  these  persons  we  found  at  home,  but 
she  was  not  really  as  much  intereste4  as  the  friend  who  sent  us  to  heij  had  imagined 
her  to  be,  so  we  did  not  seem  to  accomplish  much  in  that  town. 

From  St.  Augustine  our  route  took  us  to  Miami  by  way  of  Palm  Beach.  One 
of  our  Bahai  friends  in  the  Middle  West  had  been  in  correspondence  with  a  leading 
clergyman  of  West  Palm  Beach  and  she  had  written  us  hoping  that  we  mi^t  meet  him. 
This  we  did,  and  had  a  very  pleasant  call  explaining  to  him  our  mission  in  those 
parts.  He-  seemed  to  have  a  certain  fear  of  mentioning  the  Bahai  religion  and  of 
hearing  that  which  we  might  be  able  to  tell  him  of  the  faith,  so  we  chatted  about 
other  things  -  principally  about  church  architecture  in  which  he  seemed  particu- 
larly interested,  since  he  anticipated  building  a  new  church  in  his  parish,  some 


'15- 

designs  for  which  he  showed  us,  k«  after  a  pleasant  call,  we  left  hia  assorted  in 
his  own  affairs. 

---ooOoo— — 

For  several  years  there  have  been  a  few  Bahais  ix»  Miami.  The  Atwater 
family  have  lived  there  and  have  done  what  they  could  to  interest  others  in  the 
work,  until  this  year  they  were  reinforced  by  Mrs*  E.  R»  Boyle  of  the  Assembly  in 
Washington,  D*  C.>  who  with  her  children  wintered  in  Miami  and  joined  forces  with 
the  Atwaters  in  the  Bahai  work* 

Mr.  At¥/ater  velry  kindly  met  Us  at  the  station  with  his  car  and  helped 
us  to  locate  ourselves  itt  a  hotel  and  the  same  evening  we  all  went  down  to  see 
Mrs*  Beyle  and  to  plan  out  a  short  series  of  meetings  to  cover  the  three  days  which 
we  expected  to  stay  in  Miami.  Jhe  afternoon  following  our  arrival,  Mrs.  Boyle 
arranged  a  reception  and  gathering  of  about  forty  thinking  and  progressive  people 
of  various  walks  of  life  -  army  and  navy  from  the  nearby  military  pests  -  and  pro- 
fessional persons  -  and  with  these  some  northerners  who  had  winter  homes  in  Miami. 
As  usual  the  talk  in  the  meeting  revolved  about  Die  Message  and  The  New  Day,  and 
as  there  were  several  scientific  men  present,  the  harmony  between  science  and  the 
true  religion  was  featured  and  emphasis  was  given  to  the  fact  that  as  Divine  Reve- 
lation has  always  been  the  foxmdation  of  civilization  in  times  past,  it  is  correct 
to  infer  that  the  great  universeil  world  civilization  toward  which  we  are  now  look- 
ing will  be  the  product  of  the  universal  world  religion  which  is  given  in  the 
Bahai  Revelation  and  is  the  universal  cause  of  the  day.  This  meeting  was  followed 
up  by  ssveral  talks  with  people  who  were  there.  One  afternoon  we  went  out  to  Co- 
coanut  Grove,  a  suburb  of  Miami,  to  the  home  of  an  eminent  astronomer  from  a  New 
England  University  whose  wife  was  interested  in  the  movement.  We  also  spent  an 
interesting  hour  at  tea  with  Mrs.  Beckwith  (who  had  received  us  and  arranged  our 
meeting  in  Greenville,  North  Carolina)  who  was  then  in  Miami  on  a  visit  to  her 
daughter  who  was  also  much  attracted  to  the  cause. 

One  evening  Vir»   and  Mrs,  Atwater  had  us  to  dinner  with  several  others, 
and  in  the  evening  quite  a  number  tf  their  friends  came  in  to  hear  of  the  Message, 
amongst  whom  were  several  spiritualists,  who  seemed  much  attracted  by  all  they 
heard  of  the  Bahai  Teaching. 

Our  last  evening  in  Miami  was  spent  at  the  home  of  Miss  Julia  D.  Harris* 
T/here  we  dined  and  later  met  a  number  of  after  dinner  guests.  Miss  Harris  con- 
ducts an  open  air  school  for  children  and  is  doing  a  constructive  educational  work 
much  appreciated  by  the  people.  She  was  assisted  by  quite  a  corps  of  young  women 
teachers  and  assistants  who  all  seemed  to  be  interested  in  all  we  told  them  about 
the  Bahai  ideals.  The  discourse  of  the  evening  began  upon  the  influence  of  the 
true  spirit  of  religion  upon  education,  art  and  architecture,  with  a  description 
of  the  Mashrak-HOAzkar  and  its  various  educational  accessories,  after  which  the 
thought  and  attention  of  the  audience  was  turned  toward  the  more  fundamental  and 
spiritual  aspects  of  The  Glad  Tidings  and  The  Bahai  Revelation  was  presented  as 
the  fulfillment  of  all  the  hi^est  ideals  of  the  religions  of  the  past. 

ooOoo — - 

We  were  very  pleased  indeed  with  our  experiences  while  in  Florida.  This 
state  has  been  settled  by  people  from  all  parts  :of  this  country  and  the  world  and 
consequently  Florida  is  a  place  of  cosmopolitan  interests  and  spirit  all  of  v^rhich 
tends  to  free  people  from  their  mental  and  religious  limitations  of  the  past  and 


t'iv 


-16- 

open  their  hearts  to  The  CaU  of  GOD.  in  £act  it  seemed  to  ug  that  the  field  of 
the  hearts  viras  particularly  ready  in  Florida  for  the  Message  of  El  ABHA. 

It  was  quite  a  long  journey  from  Miami,  which  is  in  the  southern  part  of 
Florida^  up  to  Savannah,  Georgia,  which  was  our  next  stopping  place;  "but  we  were 
fortiinate  in  finding  ourselves  in  company  with  a  physician  and  his  wife  and 
daughter  who  had  attended  Mrs.  Boyle's  meeting  and  who  through  her  had  become 
interested  in  Abdul  Baha.  Our  visit  with  them  wets  temporarily  interrupted  when 
we  left  the  train  at  Savannah,  for  we  were  to  see  them  again  in  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  a  few  days  later. 

-— ooOoo— 

We  heui  in  cur  possession  the  names  of  three  gentlemen  in  Savannah  which 
had  been  given  us  by  our  physician  friend  in  Augusta  -  men  who  had  long  been  asso- 
ciated together  in  the  mystical  study  of  the  Masonic  orders  and  rites.  One  of 
these  gentlemen  was  leaving  town  so  we  could  not  meet  him,  but  with  the  other  two 
we  had  a  most  unusual  conversation  which  lasted  the  better  part  of  a  Sunday  after- 
noon and  well  on  into  the  evening. 

These  students  of  religion  had  penetrated  below  the  surface  into  the 
realities  of  things,  so  we  found  we  could  begin  with  them  with  the  most  vital 
principles  of  the  Bahai  Revelation.  They  seemed  quite  c-wake  to  the  fact  that  the 
world  was  now  in  the  esirly  days  of  the  Kingdom  upon  earth  and  that  the  time  was 
for  the  New  Revelation,  so  we  were  able  to  tell  them  of  the  Revelation  of  Baha'o'- 
llah  and  of  the  presence  now  upon  earth  of  the  Living  Branch  -  Branched  from  the 
Pre-existant  Root  -  The  Word. 

Our  interview  was  one  of  those  experiences  when  one  feels  virtue  to  be 
going  out  of  himself  to  be  absorbed  by  the  listeners  who  are  thirstily  drinking  it 
in.  These  men  seemed  to  realize  the  significance  of  the  message  we  brough  to  them, 
and  we  parted  with  them,  each  feeling  that  our  paths  would  aigain  meet  in  this  Great 
Cause. 

- — oeOoo- — 

We  would  gladly  have  remained  longer  in  the  South  but  the  time  for  the 
Annual  Convention  and  Congress  of  Bahais  to  be  held  in  New  York  was  approaching 
so  we  were  obliged  to  leave  Savannah  after  having  but  the  one  visit  with  our  new 
friends  there,  Charleston  v/as  the  next  place  where  we  stopped.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  our  acquaintances  from  Miami,  to  whom  I  have  referred,  we  met  no  one  in 
Charleston  with  whom  we  could  speaOc  reg5irding  the  cause.  We  had  two  good  con- 
versational visits  with,  the  physician  and  his  wife  and  daughter  and  then  left 
Charleston  for  New  York,  remaining  over  in  Washington  for  a  few  hours  on  the  way 
North.   I  trust  some  day  to  be  able  to  visit  Charleston  again,  remaining  for  a 
sufficient  length  of  time  to  be  able  to  meet  people  and  to  tell  them  something 
about  the  Bahai  Revelation. 

— —  ooQoo — 

The  Convention,  as  many  will  testify,  was  a  time  of  great  rejoicing  and 
unity  among  the  friends.  The  wonderful  tablets  revealed  by  The  Center  of  the 
Covenant,  conveyed  to  this  covmtry  by  Mirya  Ahmid  S<Sirab,  calling  the  Bahais  to 
arise  and  proclaim  this  great  cause  to  the  whole  world  of  hxananity,  brough  great 
responsibilities  upon  the  friends  and  at  the  same  time,  with  this  call  came  the 


-17- 

Bpiritual  power  necessary  with  which  to  arise  and  to  accomplish  this  work,  so  the 
friends  one  amd  all  returned  to  their  respective  homes,  filled  with  the  vision  of 
the  great  program  of  teaching  unfolded  to  the  believers  by  Abdul  Baha. 

Returning  to  Washington  after  the  close  of  the  Convention  for  some  six 
weeks  in  order  to  arrange  my  affairs  for  a  long  absence  from  home,  I  have  found 
quite  a  little  Bahai  work  to  be  don©  in  this  vicinity  and  in  the  country  around 
about  here. 

Mrs.  Nourse  and  her  family  live  on  the  Potomac  River  seventeen  miles 
below  Washington,  their  place  having  formerly  been  a  part  of  the  original  George 
Washington  Estate  of  Mount  Vernon.  But  a  short  time  ago,  Mrs.  Nourse  began  a 
series  of  Bahai  meetings  to  which  she  invited  her  neighbors  and  the  people  of  the 
countryside  in  her  vicinity.  At  the  first  meeting  she  had  between  forty  and  fifty 
people  -  men  and  women  and  children,  including  several  soldiers  from  an  army  encamp- 
ment in  the  enighborhood,  Mr.  Allen  McDaniel,  Mr.  Bassett  and  I  conducted  the 
presentation  of  the  Holy  Cause.  While  the  subject  was  entirely  new  to  the  majority 
of  those  present,  the  response  was  very  good  and  a  number  of  the  people  asked  that 
they  be  invited  to  the  next  meeting.  Mrs.  Nourse  intends  holding  these  meetings 
regularly  in  the  hope  that  the  Washington  friends  will  help  her  in  this  work. 

Miss  Margaret  Green,  originally  of  Washington,  who  was  for  some  time  in 
Juneau,  Alaska,  is  now  again  here  in  our  Assembly  and  has  been  organizing  a  Bahai 
center  in  the  hamlet  of  Woodford  in  Virginia  about  eighteen  miles  west  of  Washing- 
ton. The  meetings  there  are  being  held  in  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Ifrs.  Hampton 
Williams.  Several  times  a  group  of  us  from  Washington  have  gone  up  there  to 
present  the  message,  and  on  the  last  occasion  we  addressed  between  twenty  and 
twenty- five  people,  all  of  whom  were  impressed  to  listen  most  attentively  and 
thoughtfully  to  The  Glad  Tidings,  and  afterwards  asking  questions  the  nature  of 
which  showed  that  they  were  considering  deeply  all  which  they  had  heard. 

Mrs.  Ledyard  has  rendered  much  service  in  this  matter  of  teaching  in 
these  rural  districts  by  transporting  to  and  from  the  places  of  meeting  in  her 
automobile,  the  groups  of  Bahais  from  Washington  who  are  conducting  the  teaching. 
Through  this  service  of  hers  it  has  been  possible  for  us  repeatedly  to  go  down  to 
Annapolis,  the  seat  of  the  Capitol  of  the  State  of  Maryland,  where  we  have  met 
regularly  with  certain  friends. 

During  the  past  winter  a  group  of  people  have  been  aissembled  in  Annapolis, 
through  the  efforts  of  Stanwood  Cobb,  originally  of  Boston,  who  for  some  time  has 
been  an  instructor  in  English  at  the  United  States  Naval  Academy  situated  in 
Annapolis* 

Through  Mr.  Cobb's  efforts,  a  series  of  regular  weekly  meetings  were  held 
in  his  rooms  -  these  began  with  five  or  six  people  emd  gradually  increased.  I  ha\'e 
been  able  to  follow  this  work  for  the  past  year,  going  down  to  Annapolis  frequently 
The  last  meeting  which  I  attended  there  before  going  South  was  held  in  one  of  the 
lecture  halls  of  St.  John's  College,  (which  is  the  State  College  of  Maryland)  and 
over  forty  persons  were  present  to  hear  a  talk  upon  the  cause  with  particxalar 
reference  to  the  Maahrak-El-Azkar. .  .An  eihibition  of  some  of  the  preliminary  de-  • 
signs  for  the  Mashrak-^El-Azkar  was  held  in  coimection  with  this  meeting. 

During  our  travels  Mr.  Bassett  kept  a  very  careful  list  of  the  names 
and  addresses  of  those  who  attended  our  meetings  and  who  seemed  really  attracted 
to  the  cause.  Already  Bahai  literature  has  been  sent  to  those  on  this  list  and  I 
trust  to  be  able  to  keep  in  touch  with  them  through  correspondence  in  the  hope  of 


-18- 

watering  with  the  Holy  Words  and  Bahai  thoughts  the  spiritual  teachings  which 
have  been  planted  in  the  hearts  of  these  people  -  then  later  when  other  teacJiers 
go  over  this  same  ground  again,  this  list  will  be  of  great  assistance  to  them. 

While  on  this  recent  tour,  I  have  been  quite  impressed  by  the  state  of 
receptivity  of  the  people  for  the  Bahai  Teachings.  Not  only  for  the  general 
spiritual  principles  of  the  religion  but  for  the  Message  of  The  Covenant,  for  in 
each  place  we  visited,  we  were  able  with  the  greatest  facility  and  harmony  of 
spirit  to  tell  the  people  of  the  coming  of  the  Promised  One  of  all  religions,  of 
the  establishment  of  His  Covenant  upon  earth,  and  of  the  Center  of  tkat  Covenant 
in  Abdul  Baha  who  is  here  with  us  now  upon  earth.  Only  a  few  years  ago  the  people 
whom  the  Bahais  were  then  meeting  did  not  seem  to  be  nearly  so  ready  for  this 
great  fimdamental  teaching  of  the  cause  as  they  now  are,  for  now  they  seem  to  be 
prepared  to  receive  it  in  its  entirety. 

This  readiness  to  listen  to  the  Divine  Call  by  the  people  in  this  coun- 
try seems  to  be  coexistant  with  the  general  upset  state  of  society  which  is  caus- 
ing the  people  to  seek  reality.  This  war  and  all  of  the  conditions  attending  the 
coming  of  the  new^  age  is  causing  great  imrest  and  upheavals  everjrwhere,  until  one 
feels  as  if  he  were  standing  over  a  volcano  which  might  burst  forth  at  any  moment. 
Only  a  few  nights  ago  as  I  sat  late  writing  upon  this  report  the  whole  neighbor- 
hood was  startled  by  a  terrible  explosion  shaking  the  houses  and  causing  alarm. 
It  proved  to  be  an  assassin's  bomb  exploding  before  the  home  of  a  high  government 
official  in  the  near  vicinity  -  one  whom  anarchists  wished  to  kill-  fortunately 
the  official  himself  v/as  not  injured,  though  his  house  auid  the  homes  of  his 
neighbors  were  sadly  deaolished  and  marred. 

Such  actions  indicate  the  unreast  of  the  people  and  make  one  feel  like 
exerting  a  greater  effort  than  ever  made  before  toward  sending  forth  the  Bahai 
Spiritual  leaven  of  the  Kingdom  in  order  to  save  humanity  from  causing  its  own 
annihilation  £md  destruction. 

— -ooCoo— 

Mr.  Bassett  is  now  in  New  York  City  so  we  are  no  longer  associated  in 
this  work  of  teaching  together.  For  many  reasons,  this  is  a  matter  of  deep  regret 
to  me.  It  is  a  great  help  in  going  out  to  teach  to  have  a  spiritual  companion  and 
fellow-missioner  to  share  with  one  the  joys  and  blessings  of  the  Bahed  work,  as 
well  as  to  sustain  one  another  in  the  difficult  moments  when  one  may  be  tired  and 
inclined  to  be  a  bit  discouraged. 

In  a  few  days  I  am  starting  forth  to  continue  work  in  the  field  of  the 
sixteen  southern  states  mentioned  in  the  Tablet  to  Washington.  I  trust  to  visit 
various  tovms,  and  be  able  to  raise  the  call  of  the  Kingdom  in  those  parts,  trust- 
ing in  Abdul  Baha  for  knowledge  and  looking  to  him  always  for  guidance. 

— ooOoo—- 


*  *  *  * 

♦  ♦ 

«     3|c     :|c     *        « 

♦ 
♦  ♦ 

«     *    *    « 

P,  0.  Eox  1319, 

I7ashington,   D.  C, 
9  June  1919. 


To  the  Members  of  the 

Bcihai  Boaird  of  Teaching  in  Anerica. 

Dear  Friends: 

At  the  first  meeting  of  our  Board  held  at  the  McAlpin  Hotel  in 
New  York  City  on  the  night  of  Ifey  first  last,  several  of  the  friends  requested 
me  to  make  a  fev/  v;ritten  suggestions  which  might  be  of  value  to  the  committee 
and  to  teachers  now  going  forth  to  teach  the  Bahai  Revelation  in  various  parts 
at  home  and  abroad.  Therefore  I  will  embody  in  this  letter  some  suggestions  as 
to  ways  of  approach  and  the  means  which  I  have  found  successful  in  attempting 
to  reach  those  people  who  would  respond  to  the  Glad  Tidings  and  are  ready  for  the 
ABHA  Message. 

One  of  the  most  difficult  problems  which  confronts  the  Bahai 
teachers  is  the  locating  of  those  souls  vvho  are  spiritually  prepared  and  seeking 
for  the  Message  of  GOD,  In  the  Holy  TJords  we  are  told  that  like  attracts  like 
and  that  every  one  seeks  affinity  with  his  own  kind.  According  to  this  principle 
many  of  us  have  observed  that  truth  seeking  souls  usually  band  more  or  less  to- 
gether, raien  a  Bahai  teacher  enters  a  strange  tovm  or  land  and  there,  through 
the  bounty  of  GOD,  meets  with  one  seeking  soul  it  is  usually  the  case  that  through 
that  one  person  other  similarly  attracted  and  waiting  souls  may  be  reached. 

I  well  recall  the  young  men  and  women  to  whom  Mrs.  Maxwell  gave 
the  message  and  brought  into  the  cause  nineteen  years  ago  in  Paris.  There  were 
several  small  groups  of  seekers  who  came  into  the  knowledge  of  the  revelation  at 
about  the  same  time,  each  circle  or  group  being  led  to  the  cause  through  the  at- 
traction, effort,  and  interest  of  one  of  its  members. 

For  instance,  amcng  my  personal  friends  of  the  students  of  the 
Latin  Quarter  were  several  young  men  and  young  women  who  for  some  time  prior  to 
hearing  of  The  Bahai  Message  were  associated  as  friends.  T7e  often  talked  to- 
gether of  the  spiritual  realities  of  life  and  were  seeking  truth.  The  first  of 
the  group  to  hear  the  Glad  Tidings  of  The  Coming;  told  the  others  and  it  was  not 
long  before  this  small  circle  of  seeking  friends  were  -united  in  the  cause,  having 
found  their  Lord.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hopper  '.vere  of  this  number,  and  in  a  similar 
manner,  through  certain  ones,  Mrs.  Ifexwell  was  enabled  to  reach  other  groups  of 
people  ready  and  ripe  for  the  revelation. 

At  the  present  time,  in  this  country,  there  is  a  great  vrjriety  of 
diverse  sects  and  cults  of  a  religious  nature  both  old  and  new.  Those  v/hich  are 
dominated  by  the  spirit  of  sectarianism  seem  to  offer  but  little  opportunity  and 
field  for  Bahai  work,  because  revolving  about  a  sectarian  ideal  they  attract 
their  like  and  kind,  so  the  Bahais  do  not  find  a  very  broad  field  of  work  among 
these  sectarianists.  However,  the  5)irit  of  GOD  is  working  among  them  and  as  they 


-20- 

relinquish  their  sectarian  ideals  and  respond  to  the  divine  call  of  this  Hew  Age, 
their  hearts  becoma  opened  to  the  universal  Truths  of  GOD. 

Upon  the  other  hand,  there  are  certain  religious  movements  and  as- 
sociations fovmded  upon  a  broad  religious  outlook  and  in  these  societios  the 
I3ahais  find  a  better  field  for  their  labors,  for  here  are  gathered  together  groups 
of  progressive  souls  freed  from  religious  and  sectarian  prejudices. 

For  example,  let  us  consider  the  Theosophists  who  have  centers  in 
many  of  our  leading  tovms  and  cities.   It  has  invariably  been  my  experience  to 
receive  a  warm  welcome  among  these  people  and  opportunities  to  speak  in  their 
meetings  and  to  give  them  in  a  simple  and  a  direct  way.  The  Message  of  The  ADHA 
Coming.  For  the  most  part,  the  Theosophists  are  expecting  and  looking  for  the 
coming  of  "The  Great  Master",  and,  as  this  is  one  of  the  most  striking  tenets  of 
their  religious  thought,  it  is  to  be  anticipated  that  in  their  midst  we  will  find 
persons  who  are  ready  and  seeking  for  The  Lord  in  His  Latter  Day  Coming. 

In  addition  to  the  people  grouped  in  the  acknowledged  religious 
organizations,  there  is  an  ever  increasing  and  already  a  vast  multitude  of  souls 
also  ready  for  The  Message,  v/ho,  because  of  the  admixture  of  so  much  superstition, 
and  imagination  with  the  truth,  in  the  religious  formiilae  of  the  past,  have  ceased 
to  hold  their  former  religious  connections  and  ai-e  nov.f  engaged  in  philanthropic 
and  humajQitarian  service.  Iviany  of  these  people  are  open  to  receive  the  Bahai 
Teaching,  and  though  oft  times  they  vail  tell  you  they  are  not  "Religious"  one 
finds  that  they  are  speaking  in  the  authodox  parlance  of  the  old  idea  of  religion 
whereas,  according  to  the  Dahai  standard  of  reality,  they  are  religious  in  that 
they  are  seeking  to  express  their  highest  spiritual  ideals  in  service  to  the 
human  race. 

It  has  been  the  experience  of  our  Bahai  teachers  that  when  a  per- 
son is  found  to  be  alive  to  and  working  to  establish  one  of  the  principles  of 
Daha'o*llah,  that  he  or  she  is  usually  found  to  be  in  sympathy  with  the  other 
principles  of  the  cause  when  these  axe   presented  to  them  with  regard  to  their  own 
special  labors  and  service. 

These  progressive  people  are  found  throughout  the  country  banded 
together  in  many  clubs,  associations  and  societies.   I  have  found  the  woman's 
clubs  in  various  tovv-ns  to  be  a  good  ground  for  Bahai  teaching.  In  the  work  of 
their  clubs,  the  women  of  this  country  are  keenly  interested  in  the  general  wel- 
fare and  progress  of  the  sister  women  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  so  by  taking  as 
his  theme  the  Bahai  Movement  and  its  influence  for  the  upliftment  of  women,  touch- 
ing upon  the  work  of  the  cause  among  the  women  in  the  Orient,  the  Bahai  teacher 
is  quite  sure  to  attract  and  to  hold  the  attention  of  an  audience  of  progressive 
women.  So  far  as  club  organizations  are  concerned  the  men's  clubs  in  the  past,  I 
have  found  to  be  spiritually  vmprogressive  compared  with  the  women's  clubs  through- 
out the  country.  It  has  been  with  comparative  difficulty  that  openings  for  Bahai 
speakers  have  been  arranged  before  men's  clubs.   I  imagine  that  this  has  been 
caused  largely  by  the  fact  that  for  the  most  part  men's  clubs  are  either  for 
social  diversion  or  for  business  purposes,  and  religious  and  philosophic  subjects 
are  rarely  presented  in  a  public  way.  Hcvever,  I  understand  that  this  condition 
is  now  changing  and  that  latterly  some  of  our  Bahai  speakers  have  found  attentive 
and  receptive  audiences  before  comniercial,  business  and  social  clubs  of  men,  an 
experience  which  I  hope  may  some  day  be  mine. 

There  are  many  organizations  of  men,  apart  from  the  social  and 


-21- 

tusiness  centers  of  interest,  where  the  I^ai  thoughts  and  voice  often  find  a 
hearing, ^  Among  the  gatherings  of  men  and  women  most  open  to  the  application  of 
the  Bahai  principles  one  finds  the  various  Peace  Societies,  the  Esperantists, 
Educational  Associations,  (largely  composed  of  teachers),  chautauquas  arid  other 
groups  of  people  who  are  studying  and  considering  the  social  and  economic 
problems  of  the  present  day,  persons  who  are  trying  to  adjust  the  friction  and 
clash  between  the  interests  of  the  races  and  the  doing  away  with  racial  prejudices 
and  hatred,  and  occasionally  a  group  of  scientific  minds  studying  ethics  and 
the  psychology  of  religion  and  who  hold  fast  to  the  Dahai  principle  of  the  har- 
mony and  accord  between  the  scientific  truths  of  the  material  world  and  the 
spiritual  principles  of  true  religion.  Such  groups  of  people  are  often  glad  to 
welcome  a  Bahai  speaker  and  they  usually  respond  to  the  progressive  principles 
of  the  teaching. 

Some  years  ago  one  heard  of  classes  in  various  jparts  of  the  country 
organized  for  the  comparative  study  of  religion.  Of  late,  I  have  not  run  across 
these  groups  as  often  as  formerly.  I  presume  this  is  due  to  the  fact  that  people 
in  general  are  better  informed  now  than  they  were  a  decade  ago,  about  the  reli- 
gious doctrines  of  the  foreign  peoples.  Now  the  general  thinking  public  knows 
and  accepts  much  true  philosophy  due  to  the  pioneer  work  of  students  of  compara- 
tive religion,  added  to  which  is  the  present  spiritual  condition  of  the  world 
which  now  has  created  a  demand  in  tho  hes.rt  of  humanity  to  seek  vital  dynamic 
truth  rather  than  to  delve  in  the  study  of  the  doctrines  and  customs  of  the  an- 
cient religions. 

I  well  remember,  just  before  entering  college,  when  I  was  beginning 
my  first  study  of  the  oriental  religions  by  reading  the  books  of  Jcones  Freeman 
Clarke,  the  effect  upon  orthodox  Christian  America  caused  by  the  Congress  of  Re- 
ligions held  in  connection  with  the  TJorld's  Fair  in  Chicago.  Preachers  throughout 
the  land  denounced  this  invasion  of  Christendom  by  the  then  so-called  "Heathendom" 
of  the  Orient.  However,  their  protests  were  of  but  short  duration.  Eefore  long 
there  was  so  much  demand  in  many  places  for  knowledge  of  the  systems  and  practices 
of  the  religions  other  than  Christian,  that  some  clergymen  inaugurated  classes  for 
the  comparative  study  of  religion  to  meet  this  new  demand  of  the  public  thought. 

I  sometimes  regret  that  there  is  not  more  of  this  v;ork  going  on 
now  about  us,  for  these  groups  of  people  were,  in  many  cases,  peculicirly  ready 
and  prepared  for  the  Bahai  thought.  My  first  public  exposition  of  the  Bahai  Mes- 
sage was  before  such  an  audience.  It  was  in  the  home  of  Mrs.  Richard  Fitz-Hugh 
Ledyard,  in  Cazenovia,  New  York,  where  under  the  instruction  of  the  Presbyterian 
clergman  of  the  town,  a  man  of  unusually  broad  vision  emd  interests,  a  claas  of 
sixty  or  more  people  vi/ere  just  finishing  a  series  of  lectures  by  him  upon  the 
various  religious  systems  ancient  and  modern,  which  formed  a  good  preparation  and 
introduction  to  the  Bahai  Religion. 

In  addition  to  the  platforms  provided  by  religious  and  philanthrop- 
ic gatherings  of  people,  there  are  a  number  of  clubs  and  organizations  for  general 
improvement  and  study  which  offer  good  opportunities  for  Bahai  speakers,  such  as 
"current  event"  classes,  literary,  historical,  dramatic  art,  eirchaeological  and 
architectural  clubs,  besides  organizations,  schools,  travel  clubs  and  the  like, 
before  which  a  speaker  can  through  giving  a  talk  upon  the  subject  of  particular 
interest  to  the  audience  make  certain  connections  with  the  Bahai  Thoxxght. 

For  example,  it  is  a  rare  opportunity  for  a  "current  event  class" 
to  be  able  to  hear  explained  to  them  the  history  and  the  object  of  the  Bahai 


-22- 

Movement  bj  a  Dahai  whose  heart  and  5oil  is  in  the  cause.  Before  other  classes 
interested  in  certain  special  studi-^3  the  creative  influence  of  religious  thought 
upon  civilization,  incluling  li+'::ra+urs,  history,  the  drama  and  all  branches  of 
art  is  a  theae  which  presents  man/  possibilities,  while  people  of  all  ages  are 
glad  to  hear  about  the  experiences  of  the  Bahais  in  foreign  lands  and  their 
pilgrimages  to  The  H0I7  Land. 

Throughout  all  these  many  ways  of  approaching  people  with  the  Bahai 
Message,  the  more  we  can  tell  the  people  of  Abdul-Baha  and  of  the  gospel  of  his 
daily  life,  the  greater  seeas  to  be  the  impression  made  upon  them  and  the  more 
they  will  be  attracted  to  the  ca,use.  Even  thovigh  they  may  not  be  very  cuch  av/ake 
to  the  religious  tes.ching  of  the  cause,  if  their  interest  and  sympathy  of  thought 
be  focused  upon  Abdul-Baha,  between  him  and  them  a  spixitual  connection  is  estab- 
lished, and  this  relation  vvill  in  time  be  productive  of  illumination  and  divine 
results.  After  all,  the  most  that  the  Bahai  teacher  can  do  in  the  v«-ay  of  service 
is  to  direct  the  souls  of  the  jieople  tovirard  the  Center  of  the  ABHA  Covenant  from 
which  Center  emanates  to  humanity  the  power  and  the  confirmations  of  the  I^JiBA 
Kingdom,  and  in  this  service  of  giving  The  Message  of  The  Covenant  lies  the  power 
of  The  Kingdom  and  the  hope  of  humanity.' 

ooOoo 

Jfost  people  need  appreciation  and  encouragement  to  develop  their 
best  possibilities.  Should  we  not  do  all  in  our  power  to  encourage  the  individual 
Bahai  to  arise  in  service  to  the  cause,  rather  than  to  await  tra,nquilly  until 
others  arise,  or  a  "committee"  be  formed  to  do  the  work?  The  mere  fa.ct  that  the 
spirit  of  The  Covenant  working  in  the  heart  of  some  one  individual  inspires  and 
prompts  that  soul  to  arise  to  do  a  certain  constructive  service  shoiJLd  be  proof 
sufficient  that  by  acting  upon  this  prompting  with  wisdom  and  according  to  the 
Bahai  instructions  that  person  will  be  blessed  and  confirmed! 

In  the  growth  of  the  Holy  Cause  collective  works  grow  out  of  and 
develop  from  the  labors  of  individuals.  For  example,  in  each  city  where  there 
now  is  an  assembly  of  Bahais,  there  was  once  but  one  person  who  believed  and  under- 
took to  establish  a  center.  Through  the  tireless  efforts  of  that  first  person  to 
realize  the  need  for  establishing  a  center,  we  now  find  as  a  result  an  assembly 
supported  unitedly  by  a  number  ;,of  soxdLs. 

The  formation  of  assemblies  is  but  one  example  of  the  principles 
which  I  am  trying  to  enunciate.  For  example,  our  Bahai  Publishing  work  started 
when  the  first  Bahai  undertook  to  reproduce  the  Koly  Words  for  the  enlightment  of 
others.  The  work  of  the  Ma.shrak-Fl-A3kex  in  America,  wa.s  first  given  impetus  by 
one  Bahai  who  having  conceived  the  idea,  from  the  study  of  the  Holy  Word,  began 
to  agitate  the  matter  with  the  result  that  now  all  the  Bahcds  in  the  world  are 
united  in  this  vast  undertaking,  and  so  it  is  with  all  phases  of  the  holy  wvork. 

It  is  the  one  who  arises  to  act  upon  whom  the  divine  confirmations 
descend  and  spreading  to  others  who  follow  in  the  path  of  HL  Abha  bring  about  a 
unity  of  the  friends  in  service.  It  seems  as  if  this  unity  was  invariably  the 
result  of  serving  together  in  conformity  with  the  divine  commands. 

Should  we  not  dT;ell  upon  this  matter  in  order  to  encourage,  as 
much  as  possible  all  individuals  v.'ho  have  the  desire  to  serve,  those  who,  perhaps 
are  reticent  and  retiring  and  shrink  from  inaugurating  works,  those  who  often, 
rather  than  seem  to  wish  to  take  the  initiative  themselves,  retire  with  the  thought 


-23- 

that  someone  jpossibly  more  "prominent"  and  "experienced"  than  themselves  should 
take  the  initiative. 

Abdvd  Baha  calls  all  of  the  friends,  old  and  young,  experienced  and 
inexperienced  to  serve.   In  consultation  with  the  older  experienced  EahaiSj  and 
with  care  that  all  that  is  done  is  accomplished  according  to  both  the  letter  and 
the  spirit  of  the  revealed  ordiiiances,  no  one  need  feel  that  he  or  she  must  wait 
for  another  to  arise  to  do  that  service  which  their  hearts  prompt  and  call  upon 
them  to  perform. 

One  of  the  evident  duties  of  every  Eahai,  particularly  among  the 
older  believers,  is  to  encourage  and  to  assist  others  to  serve  the  cause.  This 
is  indeed  a  great  .  responsibility  which  rests  with  weight  upon  those  who,  promi- 
nent in  Bahai  affairs,  are  looked  upon  as  leaders  in  the  cause.  In  many  instances, 
a  word  of  encouragement  and  giAidance  from  a  Bshai  of  experience  will  have  the 
effect  of  helping  to  launch  a  younger  soul  in  a  career  as  a  servant  of  El  Eahaj 
while  upon  the  other  hand  a  discouraging  word  or  attitude  upon  the  part  of  a 
looked-up-to  Bahai,  or  a  spirit  of  indifference  \ipon  his  part  will  often  chill 
the  ardor  of  another,  and  cause  to  disappear  the  desire  to  serve.  Such  desire 
is  service  in  the  embryonic  stage,  and  should  be  fostered  and  nurtured  vmtil  it 
arrives  at  the  highest  stage  of  service  v/hich  is  that  of  divine  confirmation. 

It  is  a  very  great  bounty  to  teach  a  soul  and  to  bring  that  soul 
into  the  Kingdom  of  El  Abha,  but  how  great  will  this  blessing  be  if  one  is  en- 
abled to  help  to  train  and  to  teach  another  soul  to  become  a  teacher! 

The  responsibility  of  the  Bahai  is  great,  and  this  increases  in 
proportion  with  his  knowledge  and  standing  in  the  cause. 

I  have  often  thought  how  productive  of  good  results  it  would  be 
if  every  experienced  Bahai  teacher  could  have  associated  with  him  or  her  in  ser- 
vice a  Bahai  who  had  the  desire  to  teach  and  to  serve  and  who  sought  this  asso- 
ciation as  a  means  of  gathering  experience  and  knowledge.  Such  a  combination 
would  benefit  both  friends  associated  -  the  younger  would  constantly  be  acquiring 
facts  and  imbilring  from  the  experience  of  the  elder  one,  while  the  elder  one 
would  have  always  the  inppiration  which  comes  with  the  responsibility  of  impart- 
ing knowledge  and  sharing  experience  with  those  who  look  to  us  and  to  a  certain 
extent  depend  upon  us  for  guidance  and  understanding. 

In  my  early  experience  in  the  cause,  I  longed  and  craved  for  asso- 
ciation with  those  who  had  knowledge  and  experience  in  teaching,  but  my  surround- 
ings were  such  that  this  was  not  attainable  in  the  measiire  of  the  need  which  I 
felt.  I  will  never  cease  to  be  thankftil  for  the  very  few  and  brief  associations 
which  I  had  with  the  older  and  more  oxparienced  friends,  during  my  early  Bahai 
days*  Mr-,   Chasers  friendship  was  a  source  of  real  help  to  me.  We  saw  one  another 
only  at  long  intervals,  but  he  was  always  most  kind  in  answering  at  length  any 
questions  of  which  I  wrote,  and  I  think  the  way  in  vv'hich  he  helped  me  most  was  the 
assurance  that  I  had,  that  there  was   a  man  of  experience  devoted  to  Abdul  Baha, 
who  was  always  willing  and  glad  to  have  me  go  to  him  with  perplexing  problems. 
This  was  especially  appreciated,  for  in  those  days  of  which  I  write,  the  cause  in 
the  VTest  had  not  attained  its  present  composure,  equilibrium  and  growth,  and  we 
did  not  have  the  books,  tablets  a-nd  instructions,  which  we  now  possess,  to  which 
to  turn  for  advice.  Those  also  were  the  latter  days  of  Abdiil  Baha's  imprisonment, 
when  communication  by  correspondence  with  him  was  always  difficult  and  at  times 
impossible,  so  the  advice  of  those  experienced  in  the  teaching  was  appreciated  by 
those  of  us  who  were  taking  upon  ourselves  Bahai  responsibilities. 


..;j 


-24- 

Jfa-ny  of  us  learn  oux'  spiritual  lessons  by  stumbling  and  blundering 
along,   making  the  same  mistakes  over  and  over  again,   until  something  interferes 
to  throw  us  out  of  our  rut  and  into  another  charmel  of   experience  in  which  the 
procedure  is  like  unto  that   of  the  former  ruts  and  channels  -  at  least,    such  is 
the  case  when  mary  of  us  are  left  to  our  own  devices  to  work  out  alone  the  Eahai 
truths  and  experiences.     But  where  we  are   intimately  and  v/ith  affection  associated 
with  others,   who  themselves  have  gone  the  path  Virhich  we  are  treading,    they  cannot 
only  help  us,   but  we  ourselves  can  inspire  and  help  them  also.     Perhaps  this  type 
of  Bahai  association  could  be  more  generally  emphasized  in  the  life  and  activities 
of  the  cause  for  I   feel  that  much  good  would  ensue  therefrom.     There  is  a  natural 
tendency  for  the  older  Bahais  to  associate  together  and  for  the  younger  ones  to 
gravitate  together,    but  the  more  that  each  general  group  realizes  its  inter-de- 
pendence and  the  virtue  of  association  with  those  of  the  other  type  the  more 
these  conditions  will  become  equalized  ajid  the  greater  will  be  our  spiritual  effi- 
ciency as  servants  of  Abdul  Baha. 

ooOoo 

Nothing  seems  to  be  more  important  and  essential  to  Bahai  service 
thsui  that  all  of  the  teachers  be  well  informed  as  to  the  teachings,  £ind  that  they 
adhere  closely  to  the  thought  and  the  spirit  of  the  revealed  words,  not  going 
beyond  this,  nor  adding  anything  thereto.   If  we  all  adhere  to  this  principle  we 
will  be  so  united  that  there  will  be  no  danger  of  misunderstandings. 

Without  doubt  the  day  will  come  when  we  will  have  equipped  schools 
and  courses  of  study  for  the  education  and  preparation  of  Bahai  teachers,  but  as 
yet  these  do  not  exist,  so  for  the  present  the  responsibility  of  the  preparation 
to  teach  seems  to  rest  viith,   the  individual  Bahai.  As  we  as  individuals  arise 
to  prepare  ourselves  to  meet  this  need  the  way  will  be  made  easier  for  others, 
until  as  a  result  of  the  present  pioneer  labors  and  study  of  individuals  here  and 
there,  we  -will   have  groups  formed  for  this  service  out  of  which  will  develop 
greater  Bahai  institutions  of  teaching- 

In  the  early  days  of  the  cause  in  Americe.,  before  we  had  the  re- 
vealed books,  tablets  and  instmctions  7;hich  we  now  possess,  there  v;ere  various 
points  of  view  and  angles  of  divergence  in  teaching  in  some  of  the  assemblies 
which,  for  the  time  being  in  different  places,  retarded  the  growth  of  the  cause. 
I  recall  some  time  Eigo,  visiting  an  assembly  in  the  middle  west  and  at  the  close 
of  my  stay  suggesting  to  the  friends  that  it  might  be  arranged  for  different 
Bahai  teachers  to  visit  their  group  at  intervals  of  a  few  weeks  in  order  to 
stimulate  their  work.  Several  of  those  friends  replied  by  saying  that  they  had 
tried  that  plan  and  had  rejected  it  because  of  the  confusion  arising  from  the  con- 
flicting statements  of  the  different  traveling  Bahais! 

To  be  sure  at  the  present  time  such  conditions  no  longer  exist 
save  perhaps  in  rare  instances,  for  with  our  present  sources  of  Bahai  information 
and  instruction  we  are  now  as  never  before,  fortified  against  such  dangers.  Nviver- 
theless,  v;e  all  need  to  study  more  and  mors  the  facts  and  the  principles  of  the 
cause  in  order  that  if  one  person  goes  about  asking  the  same  question  of  various 
teachers,  he  may  always  receive  in  reality  and  in  spirit  the  same  answer  from  each 
teacher,  which  answer  ;will  be  according  to  the  revealed  text. 

'  Now  that  we  are  all  facing  this  tine  of  great  activity  in  Bahai 

teaching  in  America,  we  are  going  to  be  confronted  by  many  questions  and  problems 
which  can  only  be  met  and  solved  through  a  profound  study  of  the  facts  and  teaCh- 


-25- 

ings  of  the  revelation.  Since  the  cause  is  showing  manifest  signs  of  increased 
strength  and  growth,  and  articles  and  tooks  are  being  written  and  published  against 
us,  we  must  be  prepared  to  meet  these  opposing  forces  with  a  knowledge  of  the  trutl. 
of  the  matter.  For  example,  the  late  Rev.  Samuel  G.  Wilson^ s  pen  was  a  prolific 
agent  of  opposition  to  the  cause.  Some  of  his  articles  in  the  "Union  Seminary- 
Review",  "The  Princeton  Theological  Review",  "The  Bible  Magazine,  "  "The  East  and 
The  West,"  "The  Church  Missionary  Review",  and  other  religious  publications,  not 
to  mention  his  two  books  "Modern  Movements  Among  Moslems,"  and  "Bahaism  and  Its 
Claims,"  are  all  bitter  harangues  against  the  Bahai  Religion.  Most  of  us  are  als-o 
familiar  with  other  publications  against  tis  such  as  those  of  Stenstrand,  the  Azali, 
and  a  series  of  bitter  articles  against  the  cause  published  some  time  ago  in  the 
"Open  Court"  by  a  person  writing  under  the  name  of  Richardson.   In  addition  to  the 
opposing  works  of  these  and  other  American  writers,  are  the  many  false  and  erro- 
neous ideas  of  the  cause  contained  in  the  much  reaxi  and  quoted  writings  of  Edward 
G.  Browne,  the  well-known  orientalist  of  Cambridge,  England,  v/ho  has  written  and 
published  in  addition  to  his  books  on  the  Bahai  Religion  several  works  upon 
Persia,  in  which  he  makes  misleading  allusions  to  and  statements  about  the  cause. 
To  my  mind,  these  writings  of  Browne  should  be  handled  v.'ith  particular  care  by 
our  Bahai  teachers  because  of  the  shifting  and  unstable  attitude  of  this  writer 
toward  the  Religion.  Upon  one  page  he  writes  with  apparent  conviction  on  behalf' 
of  the  cause,  while  upon  the  n^xt  he  is  equally  eloquent  in  interceding  for  those 
Azalis  who  were  the  violators  of  the  Covenant  of  The  Bab. 

I  do  not  7/ish  to  be  misunderstood  concerning  this  statement  about 
Edward  G.  Browne's  works.  The  Bahai  world  i-ecognizes  his  translation  of  "A  Tra- 
veller's Narrative"  the  original  of  which  was  approved  and  is  one  of  the  standard 
works  of  the  Bahai  Cause.  I  refer  to  the  many  misleading  statements  and  incorrect 
and  biased  information  contained  in  the  notes  and  data  appended  by  Mr.  Browne  to 
his  translation  of  the  "Narrative",  much  of  the  material  of  which,  as  he  himself 
states,  was  the  testimony  of  the  enemies  of  the  Bahais. 

In  addition  to  the  works  mentioned,  which  have  had  wide  circxilation 
and  are  more  or  less  familiar  to  many  of  our  people,  are  those  of  a  number  of 
others  -  occidentals  living  in  the  Orient,  such  as  M.  A.  L,  M.  Nicholas  and  var- 
ious Christian  missionaries,  also  residents  of  Persia,  among  which  are  P.  Z. 
Easton,  W.  A.  Shedd,  R.  E.  Speer,  as  v/ell  as  H.  H,  Jessup  of  Syria.  So  long  as  we 
are  informed  of  the  exact  facts  and  reality  of  the  cause  we  have  nothing  to  fear 
when  confronted  by  these  writers  and  those  who  hold  their  arguments,  but  we  must 
be  prepared  to  meet  all  of  these  questions  with  knowledge  and  facts. 

Some  of  the  antagonistic  works  mentioned  have  had  a  wide  circula- 
tion throughout  the  country.  During  my  travels  I  make  a  point  of  visiting  the 
libreiries  in  various  towns,  and  there,  side  by  side  with  the  Bahai  books,  I  often 
find  such  books,  for  instance,  as  Dr.  Wilson's.  Moreover,  one  often  meets  people 
who  have  read  these  articles,  so  the  reason  I  mention  these  antagonistic  writers 
and  their  works  is  to  try  to  share  with  our  teachers  the  importance  that  I  feel 
we  should  give  to  the  study  vof  those  Bahai  writings  which  contain  the  truth  of 
these  matters  which  are  assailed.  Once  assimilated  through  study,  these  truths 
and  realities  will  be  a  powerfvil  weapon  in  our  hands  for  the  spread  of  the  cause 
amongst  mankind  and  for  its  protection  against  all  enemies. 

ooOoo 

While  at  present  we  have  a  goodly  supply  of  the  standard  works  of 
the  cause  in  book  form,  both  of  the  revealed  words  and  of  the  apologetic  writings. 


-27- 

In  this  seirvice,  the  coramittee  needs  the  help  and  co-operation  of 
the  friends  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  Ue  appreciate  it  very  much  when  you 
interest  librarians  in  having  our  literature  in  their  libraries,  and  when  you 
refer  Bahai  readers  and  students  to  these  libraries,  in  which  our  books  are 
shelved.  These  are  important  elements  in  getting  the  Bahai  Message  to  the 
people. 

After  some  experience  our  committee  has  found  it  desirable  to 
carry  on  their  business  directly  with  the  librarians  throughout  the  country  where 
our  books  are  welcomed.   If  the  Bahais  will  interest  librarians  of  public  libra- 
ries to  apply  for  books,  the  matter  will  be  attended  to  without  delay. 

The  committee  invites  correspondence  and  suggestions  regarding 
the  placing  of  Bahai  books.  Kindly  address  communications  to: 

The  Secretary, 

Bahai  Library  Comciittee, 
P.  0.  Box  1319.  Washington,  D.  C. 

— -ooOoo 

One  of  the  apparent  handicaps  which  has  beset  many  of  our  Bahai 
teachers  and  has  limited  their  fields  of  activity  has  been  due  to  lack  of  finances 
so  necessary  for  traveling  while  engaged  in  teaching.   I  would  suggest  that  every 
reasonable  effort  be  made  by  The  Bahai  Board  of  Teaching,  toward  obtaining  for 
the  Bahai  teachers  the  reduced  fares  of  travel,  accorded  to  ministers  of  religion 
in  this  country,  by  the  Ifaited  States  Railroad  Administration. 

Now  that  the  Bahai  Religion  is  daily  becoming  more  and  more  recog- 
nized in  the  religious  world,  there  seems  to  be  no  reason  why  our  teachers  v;ho 
may  be  especially  called  by  Abdul  Baha  to  perform  certain  missions,  or  those  de- 
tailed by  our  Board  of  Teaching  to  perform  other  services  entailing  travel  and 
railroad  fares,  should  not  come  in  for  those  perquisites  allowed  by  the  laws  of 
the  land  to  ministers  of  religion  who  travel! 

This  is  a  matter  which  I  feel  should  be  pushed  as  rapidly  as  pos- 
sible in  order  to  facilitate  the  carrying  out  of  Abdul  Baha's  world  programme  of 
teaching.  Many  ocean  steamship  lines  give  reduced  rates  to  missionaries  going 
and  returning  from  abroad.  Now  that  we  are  called  to  branch  out  from  America  into 
the  international  field  of  Bahai  activities,  it  may  be  possible  for  the  Bahai 
teaching  organization  to  obtain  this  reduction  in  ocean  travel  for  the  accredited 
Bahai  missioners  who  are  traveling  to  foreign  parts  engaged  in  the  v;ork  of  the 
cause. 

The  time  will  undoubtedly  cone,  and  soon  we  hope,  when  we  will 
have  well  organized  and  arrarjged  central  bureaus  where  files  of  names  of  people 
interested  and  attracted  to  the  cause  will  be  kept  together  with  information 
helpful  in  placing  teachers  in  touch  vdth  seekers  and  also  of  service  in  keeping 
those  attracted  and  interested  in  touch  with  the  movement.  Hovirever,  for  the 
present,  we  have  no  such  general  organization  and  until  such  be  formed,  and  in 
order  that  we  may  work  toward  that  larger  organized  plan,  I  have  found  it  advan- 
tageous to  keep  an  index  of  names  and  addresses  of  those  with  whom  we  meet  and 
talk  regarding  the  cause.  Though  we  may  be  separated  and  not  see  such  persons 
for  years,  nevertheless  a  postal  or  letter,  and  a  copy  of  a  tablet  or  a  pamphlet 
sent  to  them  from  time  to  time  keeps  them  in  touch  with  the  believers  and  makes 


X 


r  .. 


•J    ■ 


-28- 

them  realize  our  friendly  interest  in  them  personally  and  in  their  spiritual 
problems,  all  of  which  paves  the  way  toward  their  Bahai  association.  The  exchange 
of  such  data  between  Bahai  teachers  is  of  inestimable  value  too,  for  very  often 
one  teaxiher  in  traveling  over  the  ground  traversed  by  another  will  find  his  work 
greatly  facilitated  by  information  of  this  nature,  with  introductions  to  attracted 
people. 

While  Abdul  Baha  was  in  this  country  he  seemed  pleased  by  the  news- 
paper publications  about  him  and  his  cause.   It  seemed  to  be  a  very  good  thing  to 
have  as  much  newspaper  notice  as  possible  providing  it  be  of  the  right  sort-  We 
have  had  so  much  difficulty  in  getting  just  the  right  kind  :of  "write  ups"  and 
straight  information  about  the  cause  into  the  papers  that  I  find  the  best  plan  to 
be  to  write  the  article,  have  it  typed,  and  take  it  to  the  editor  of  the  paper. 
It  often  appears  in  a  very  much  abridged  form  of  one's  original  article,  but  so 
far  as  it  goes  the  information  it  contains  is  quite  sure  to  be  correct.  When  a 
man  unacquainted  with  the  Bahai  thought  is  sent  by  a  paper  to  report  a  meeting, 
usually  his  article  is  more  apt  to  have  mistakes  in  it  than  otherwise,  so  I  find 
it  to  be  a  good  plan  to  have  at  hand  a  brief  typed  statement  of  the  more  salient 
points  of  the  movement  to  be  given  to  these  journalists.   It  minimizes  their  work 
and  they  appreciate  having  the  exact  data. 

Each  one  serving  in  the  cause  through  experience  finds  his  own 
method  and  system  for  work,  but  through  comparing  our  experiences  and  learning 
of  the  ways  of  other  Bahais,  v/e  often  find  ideas  for  increasing  our  own  service. 
It  has  been  with  this  thought  in  mind  that  I  have  been  led  to  compose  this  lengthy 
letter,  which,  now  in  its  complete  form  is  many  times  longer  than  anticipated 
when  I  first  sat  down  to  write. 

Faithfvilly  yours. 

In  The  Service  of  The  Covenant, 


^S-^^ 


PROSPECTUS 

A  Series  of  Five  Lectures  Upon  the  Universal 

Religious    and    Social    Principles 

of  the  Bahcii  Movement. 

Su 

CHARLES    MASON    REMEY 

of 
WASHINGTON.  D.  C. 


ARCHITECTURAL     EXHIBITION 

OF    A     SERIES     OF     PRELIMINARY     DESIGNS 

BY     CHARLES     MASON     REMEY     FOR 

THE     MASHRAK-EL-AZKAR 

(BAHAI     TEMPLE) 


•yy 


